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I 

THE LIFE 



OF THE 




REV. FREEBORN G ARRETTSGN : 

COMPILED FROM 

HIS PRINTED AND MANUSCRIPT 

JOURNALS, 

\ N B OTHER AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS. 



BY NATHAN BANGS, D. D. 

Aad tiiey that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn 
many tc righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever," Daniel xii, 3= 



SECOND EDITION; REVISED AND CORRECTED. 



NEW-YORK, 

t BUSHED BY J. EMORY AND B. WAUGH, AT THE CON FERE Nt E 
OFFICE, 14 CROSBY-STREET. 

J Collord, Printer: 



l%3 




u 



DEDICATION 



TO MRS. CATHARINE GARRETTSON. 

Madam, — To whom can I so appropriately dedicate 
this account of one endeared to you by so many ties, as 
to yourself, who for so long a time knew and appreciated 
his worth, enjoyed his society, and now so sincerely mourn 
your loss 1 May that benignant Being, who so mercifully 
supported and directed your late excellent and venerable 
husband through a long life, and finally gave him such a 
complete victory over death, spread around you the wing 
of his mercy, and safely conduct you to <s glory and 
immortality." 

With Christian affection, 

I am your humble servant, 

Nathan Bang? 

Yew- York, August 1 , 182?. 



PREFACE, 



Very soon after the death of Mr. Garrettson it was 
made known to me by the bereaved widow, that he had 
expressed a desire that herself and daughter and myself 
should take the charge of his papers, and make such a 
disposition of them as we might consider to be fit and 
right. * 

After taking a cursory survey of them, it was resolved 
that Mrs. Garrettson and her daughter should first examine 
them, make such alterations or emendations as they might 
think expedient, and transmit them to me to be prepared 
for publication in the manner I might judge most suitable 
and proper. 

Whatever reluctance I might feel to undertake a task 
so delicate, I could not refuse to comply with a request 
coming from one to whom I felt myself under many obli- 
gations for numerous tokens of his friendship, backed as 
it was by the wishes of his* bereaved widow and daughter, 
and more especially as he had, previously to his death, 
frequently suggested the same thing to me. 

It is generally known that Mr. Garrettson published an 
account of his experience and travels in the year 1791 . This 
account embraces a period of about thirty-nine years of hie 
natural life, and sixteen of his spiritual pilgrimage. To this 
printed journal he had appended several manuscript notes 
These, which appear to have been written near the close 
of his life, give a jmore detailed account of some of the 



1 



PREFACE 



incidents glanced at in his printed journal. They havi 
been carefully examined, and such parts of them as wen 
considered most important, either to throw additional light 
on his history, or to make the incidents more interesting 
and useful, have been incorporated in the present memoir 

The original manuscript journal of his travels in Nova 
Scotia, and in some parts of the United States after his 
return from that province, was likewise consulted, and 
collated with the printed journal as far as it extended, 
with some letters from his friends in that country, his cor- 
respondence with Mr. Wesley, Dr. Coke, Mr. Asbury, 
and others, together with some anecdotes furnished by his 
pious daughter. From these documents several extracts 
have been made, some entire letters inserted, and after 
collating his printed and manuscript journals, it was found 
expedient, in order to make the narrative the more com- 
plete, to weave the two together. 

During some periods of his life, Mr. Garrettson, it ap 
pears, either made no record of his exercises andiabours. 
or did not preserve it. These chasms have been filled 
up either from the records of the church, from informa- 
tion furnished by a member of the family, or from my own 
recollection. 

In giving an account of his early experience, and sonu 
of the first years of his labours in the " ministry of recon- 
ciliation," I thought it most advisable to give it chiefly in 
his own words, as thereby the genuine sentiments of his 
heart, the exercises of his mind, and the blessing of God 
upon his labours, would be the more accurately and forci- 
bly expressed, — reserving to myself, however, the privilege 
of adding a word or sentence to make the sense clearer. 



PREFACE. 



vii 



and substituting one word for another, without either 
altering the meaning or changing the style. 

From the month of March, 1824, to June, 1826, he 
kept a very regular account of the manner in which he 
employed his time. That the reader might see the influ- 
ence of pure religion on the heart and conduct of a man 
who had been for so many years devoted to the service of 
God, and who expected so soon to appear in the presence 
of his Judge, I have made copious extracts from this part 
of his journal ; and I humbly trust that they will tend to 
make that religion which shone so steadily and brightly 
in the life of Mr. Garrettson, appear above all other things 
the most desirable and necessary. 

For the account of his remaining days, of his last sick- 
ness, and of his death, I am indebted partly to informa- 
tion received from Mrs. Garrettson and other friends who 
attended him in those solemn moments, and partly to 
my own knowledge. 

These are the materials from which the following me* 
moir has been compiled. It has been my endeavour to 
furnish the reader with a faithful narration of the inci- 
dents of his life, and of the various transactions in which 
he was engaged, as well as to exhibit an exact portraiture 
of Mr. Garrettson both in his private exercises and public 
labours. Though the critical reader will doubtless disco- 
ver many defects, it is hoped not more than may find a 
reasonable apology from the circumstances under which 
I have performed my task. Other duties have had an 
imperious claim on my time and attention, and necessa- 
rily prevented my bestowing that labour on the work which 
otherwise I might have done. 



via 



PREFACE. 



I have only to say in conclusion, that should the reader 
and his faith in God confirmed, his love to Him and desire 
so be more entirely devoted to His service increased by 
reading this narration of the many instances of the dis- 
plays of Divine providence and grace in behalf of a fellow 
being, — as I cannot but think Will be the case, — ha will 
add another testimony in favour of the utility of Christian 
biography, and the writer will feel that he has "not 
laboured in vain, nor spent his strength for naught," in 
furnishing to the surviving friends of Mr. Garrettson, and 
to the church generally, this imperfect account of his 
experience and labours, and of his triumphant entry intr< 
the world of spirits, N» Bang? 

New-York, August!, 



CONTENTS* 



Lviroducwn, Pa S e 5 ^ 10 

CHAPTER L 

His ancestors— Childhood— Education— First Methodist preachers— His 
brother John— Illness— Death of his father— False security— His awakening 
and conversion, . . . • • • ^ 31 

CHAPTER II. 

His happiness in God — Endures severe temptations — Frees his slaves- 
Reflections on slavery — Attends a class meeting — Declares what God had 
done for him— First speaks in public— Suffers persecution — Holds evening 
meetings, and God blesses his labours— Conversation with the parish priest 
—Strong exercises respecting becoming a travelling preacher— Makes the 
trial— Then tempted to desist— Makes trial of his gift again, . 31—47 
CHAPTER III. 

Commences a regular travelling preacher— Severely exercised— Much 
assisted — Holds a watch night— Goes to Fairfax circuit — Preaches in thf 
parish church — Great manifestation of the power of God — Attacked by a 
Presbyterian minister on the doctrine of perfection — Farewell sermon- 
Lodges with a Quaker — Attends conference, . . *4T — 53 
CHAPTER IV. 

Deer creek conference — Goes to Brunswick circuit, Virginia — Happy 
seasons in preaching on the way — Arrives on his circuit, and finds a lively 
people — An officer interrogates him on the subject of fighting — Confidence in 
God increased — Great consolation in preaching — Tempting offers, which he 
resists— Whites and blacks much affected — Refuses the state oath — Escapes 
a threatened imprisonment — Goes to North Carolina — Reflections on Chris- 
tian perfection — Experiences perfect love, and preaches this doctrine— 
Narrowly escapes being shot, ..... 53 — 62 

CHAPTER V. 

From the conference in Leesburg, goes to the Peninsula, Md. — Persecu- 
tion against the Methodists — Its causes — Perseveres in his work — Beaten 
and bruised — Blessed effects of this opposition in his own soul — Preaches 
the word with great effect — Enters the state of Delaware, and preaches the 
word with great success — Goes to Kent Island — Death of his brother John- 
Remarkable instance of conversion — Meets with opposition at Dover,' but 
succeeds in preaching — Rescues a man who was attempting to hang him- 
self—Conversion of an old persecutor — Not an enthusiast — Sinners flock to 
Christ — Delivered from the hand of the civil officer — Preaches .and forms a 
society in Quantico — Vindicates infant baptism — Opposition meetings un- 
successful — Good effects of the gospel — Providential interview with a strange 
woman — Work of God greatly prospers — Remarks on silent meetings- 
Great inward conflicts—Remarkable answer to prayer — The arm of the Lord 
made bare in the conversion of souls — The wicked persecute — Escapes un- 
hurt— Silences an ignorant disputant— And escapes imprisonment, 62—100 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER VI. 

Leaves the Peninsula, and at the request of Mr. Asbury goes to Philadel- 
phia— Society there in a depressed state — British army had just left the city 
—Citizens returned to their employments—Success in New- Jersey — Con- 
version of an old man — Remarkable account of a young woman, 100 — 101 

CHAPTER VII. 

Returns to the Peninsula — Introduction of Methodism into Dorset county 
—Peculiar exercises, and happy deliverance — Escapes an attempt to take 
his life — Taken by a mob — Imprisonment of J. Hartley — Maltreated and im- 
prisoned — Happy in his own soul — Is set at liberty — Strange visions of the 
night, . . . . . . 104— 11? 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Disputes respecting the ordinances — Mistakes corrected — Breach. healed, 
and harmony restored — Mr. Asbury' s account of this affair — Goes to Balti- 
more — Thence to the Peninsula — Singular dream. . 116—123 

CHAPTER IX. 

Goes to Little York — Curious account of the conversion of a man and hU 
wife — Effects thereof on the people— Goes to Colchester — Curious account; 
of a deluded woman — Persecution rages — Visits a distressed man — Opposed 
by some soldiers who were quartered in the town — Powerful effects of the 
word preached — Attends conference in Baltimore where unanimity pre- 
vails — Great distress in Virginia — Rev. Mr. Jarret friendly to the Method- 
ists, . . . . ... . 124—133 

CHAPTER X. 

Travels extensively through Virginia and North Carolina — Political diffi- 
culties — Goes to Little York — Preaches in the fields — Preaches on the doc- 
trine of perfection — Remarkable dream — Remarks on infant baptism — 
Greatly encouraged to persevere — Visits and rejoices with his old friends — 
Moums over the stupidity of the people— Attends conference in Baltimore — 
Account of a blind man — Interesting account of a young female — Attends to 
the people of colour — Conversion of a great opposer — Meets Dr. Coke — 
Reflections on Mr. Wesley's plan for the organization of a church— Goes to 
call a conference of the preachers at Baltimore, . . 133 — 14<; 

CHAPTER XI. 

State of the societies at the conclusion of the war — Destitute of the ordi- 
nances — Mr. Wesley solicited to supply this deficiency — Finally consents — 
Ordains Dr. Coke, who arrives in America, in company with Richard What- 
coat and Thomas Vasey— Christmas conference — Mr. Asbury ordained a 
superintendent, and Mr. Garrettson and others, elders — He volunteers for 
Nova Scotia — Pastoral letters — Embarks for Halifax — Stormy passage — 
Kindly received at Halifax, preaches and forms a society — Makes a tour into 
the country f and preaches with success — Account of the Allenites — Letter 
to Mr. Wesley — Mr. Wesley's answer— Visits Liverpool — Society doubled 
by his labours — Commencement of Methodism in Liverpool — Visits Shei- 
burne — Kindly treated by the rector of the parish — Society increases amids I 
opposition — Returns to Liverpool — Thence to Halifax — Correspondence 
with Mr. Wesley, Dr. Coke, and Bishop Asbury— Anecdotes and reflex^ 



CONTENTS. 



XI - 



.ions— Leaves Nova Scotia for Boston— Origin of Methodism in Boston— 
Mr. Garrettson preaches there— Passes thence to Providence— Newport— 
New-York— Philadelphia— to Baltimore, and attends conference, 147— 18a' 

CHAPTER XII. 

Attends conference in Baltimore — Elected superintendent of the societies 
m British America — Strong solicitations to accept the office — Reasons for 
declining--Appointed to the Peninsula — Contrast between the present and 
ibrmer state of the people here— Methodism generally prosperous — But some 
delusions — Their cause— Closes his labours in this place, . 183 — 189 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Proposes visiting New- England — Stops in New- York — -Takes charge o£ 
the northern district — Enters on his work with twelve young preachers under 
his oversight — General state of the country — Correspondence with Mr. 
Wesley — Second tour through his district — Death of Mr. Cook — Curious 
conversation—Origin of Methodism in Ashgrove — Dangerously wounded— 
Commencement of Methodism on Long Island — Mr. Garrettson visits there 
--Obstacles to the progress of truth — Attends the first council: in Baltimore 
—Journal of a tour through a part of New-England to Boston — Attends con= 
ierence in New- York — Comparative view of the work in this part of the 
country, . . . .... 189—219 

CHAPTER XIV. 
End of the printed journal — Division of his district— Visits Albany — Meets 
%vith Bishop Asbury — Attends conference — His testimony of Bishop Asbu= 
*y's excellences — Account of the Shakers— Tour into the new settlements- 
State of the country — Work of God revives — Providential escape from dan- 
ger — Visits the eastern part of his district — Meets Bishop Asbury, and con- 
verses with him on church government — Attends general conference in 
Baltimore — Mr. O'Kelly's division — Its effects— Visits his friends in Mary- 
land — Returns to New- York— Passes through his district — His marriage, 

220—231 

CHAPTER XV. 

Mr. Garrettson stationed in Philadelphia— On the New- York district— 
Settles his family in Rhinebeck— Prosecutes his labours— Erects a house- 
Goodness of God displayed towards him— Situation of his mansion — His 
cares multiply— Dedicates his new house to the Lord— Several stations he 
filled— In 1809 visits his old friends at the south— His account of ' this tour- 
Remarkable preservation — Visits Baltimore, Washington city, and various 
places on the Peninsula of Md.— Attends camp meetings, &c, 234— 25D 
CHAPTER XVI. 

Appointed to the New- York district— Some account of his duties— His 
sermon on the union of fear, hope, and loVe— General conference in 1808— 
Attends the first delegated conference in 1812— His views on some parts of 
our ecclesiastical economy— Appointed a conference missionary— His letter 
to the Rev. Lyman Beecher— State of that controversy— Mr. Garrettson's 
views of the subject— His charity sermon— Not pleased with being returned 
a supernumerary— Domestic enjoyments— Makes a journey to Albany, Sche- 
nectady, Troy, &c— Returns home— Solemn reflections^— Makes another 



XII 



CONTENTS, 



southern tour— -Visits New- York, Trenton, Burlington, Philadelphia, Wih 
mington, Abington, and his native place — Reflections on the state of the peo- 
ple — Goes to Baltimore, and participates in a revival of the work of God in 
that city— Returns to Rhinebeck, . . . . 253— 26S 
CHAPTER XVII. 
Attends the New- York conference — Secession of a number from the churcl 
in New- York — His feelings in relation to that unhappy affair — Makes a short 
?our to the north — Thence to the eastward — Passes through New- York — 
Thence on to Middletown, Conn. — Thence to New-London, where he enjoys 
much peace — Visits Norwich and preaches — Conversation with a pious lady 
— Revival of religion— Grieved with beholding the ravages of Socinianism — 
Goes to Providence, R. I. , and preaches— Probable check to the Socinian 
heresy — Visits Boston and Lynn — Origin of Methodism in Dorchester, Mass. 
— Visits Cambridge — Returns to Hartford — Thence to Rhinebeck — Domestic 
felicity — Makes a second tour — Affliction — Reflections thereon — Ardent 
desire for the salvation of souls — Returns through New- York city to Rhine- 
beck — Revival of religion there — Attends conference, . 269—27$ 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
Mr. Garrettson holds on his way — Engaged in building a house of worship 
at Rhinebeck — Sets ofF to attend general conference — Last visit to his na- 
tive place — Some of the transactions of the conference — English delegates- 
Friendly intercourse and correspondence between the English and America!? 
conferences — His views on some points of church government — Attends 
the New- York conference — Makes a western tour — Reflections — Novatian 
schism — Testimony against sabbath breaking — Solemn reflections — Attends 
a camp meeting — Retires to his mansion — Private meditations — Visits some 
of his old friends in Westchester county — Notice of Governor Jay — Death of 
Mrs. Carpenter — Her character — Visits Kingston — Death and character of 

Mr. Sands— Death of Mr. C S Death of old friends in New- York 

— Reflections on a call to the ministry — Death and character of Mrs. Suckley 
— Visits Philadelphia — His zeal for missions — Deadness to the world — At- 
tends the New- York conference — Preaches and publishes his semi-centen- 
nial sermon — Extracts from the sermon — Returns to Rhinebeck — Last entry 
in his journal, ....... 280 — 313 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Continued a conference missionary — Instance of his affection — His las' 
better to Mrs. Garrettson — Attends conference at Troy — His health and ac- 
tivity — Presentiment of his approaching dissolution— Visits New- York — 
His last sermon — His sickness, and death — His remains taken to Rhinebeck* 
and buried — His death a loss to the church — General outlines of his charac* 
ter — Simplicity his distinguishing feature — This gave him success in his mi- 
nistry — Inspired him with persevering zeal — Induced him to forsake all for 
Christ's sake — Gave him liberal views — Attached him to his brethren— I' 
shone in domestic life — In the order of his household, his hospitality, his 
placability, and in the pulpit — His perseverance — Veneration for the sacred 
Scriptures — Dependence on Divine aid — Variety and usefulness of 'his 
preaching — Infirmities common to man — His unblemished reputation for 
nearly fifty-two years— Was the oldest Methodist travelling preacher- 
Concluding remark, ... . . . 313— 33€ 



INTRODUCTION* 



Mr. Garrettson was among the earliest Methodic 
preachers that were raised up in America. Being active 
and zealous from the commencement of his ministerial 
career, his life and labours are intimately connected with 
the rise and progress of Methodism in this country, and his 
name will therefore ever be associated with those self deny- 
ing men who were instrumental in beginning and carrying 
forward that blessed work of God which has since spread 
so rapidly and extensively over this continent. On this 
account, it may not be amiss to introduce him to the notice 
of the reader by a sketch of the commencement of the work 
in this country. 

The first Methodist society in America was formed in the 
city of New-York, in the year 1766, by a few emigrants from 
Ireland. About the same time, however, that Mr. Philip 
Embury and his associates were laying the foundation for 
such permanent good in this city, a similar society was formed 
in Frederick county, Maryland, through the instrumentality 
of Mr. Strawbridge, another local preacher from Ireland. 

Those obscure emigrants, having been connected with 
the Methodists in their own country, and having tasted 
of the comforts of religion, not finding on their arrival 
here spiritual associates with whom they could "take sweet 
counsel," were induced to assemble by themselves in a 
private room. Here, by the earnest entreaties of Mrs, 
Hick, a pious matron, Mr. Embury very reluctantly com- 
menced preaching the doctrines of the gospel as taught 
by the Rev. John Wesley, and God blessed his labours, 
Some, indeed, have denominated Captain Webb the 
founder of Methodism in America. This I believe to 
be a mistake. Though he might have been in America 
before Mr. Embury and his associates arrived, we have 
no authentic account of his preaching, much less of his 

2 



INTRODUCTION, 



attempting to form a society, until after Mr. Embury began 
in New- York. To ascertain the truth in respect to whom 
this honour belongs, the writer took much pains some years 
since by conversing with several of the aged members of 
the society, all of whom have since been called to their 
reward in heaven, who distinctly remembered the first rise 
of the society, and took a grateful delight in rehearsing 
the circumstances attending its formation and progress. 

But though Capt. Webb, who w r as a converted soldier 
attached to the British army, which was at that time sta- 
tioned in Albany, may not be considered the founder of 
Methodism in this country, he was one of its most zealous 
and successful promoters. Hearing of the society in New- 
York, and of the difficulties with which they had to con- 
tend, he came to their assistance, introduced himself to 
Mr. Embury, and appeared before the assembly in his 
military costume as a preacher of righteousness. To be- 
hold a military officer in the character of an ambassador 
of Jesus Christ w r as a matter of no small surprise to the 
citizens who attended the meetings : but when they heard 
his addresses in the name of his divine Master, coming, 
as they did, warm from a heart inflamed with the love of 
God, their curiosity was exchanged for a conviction of the 
truth, and a surrender of the heart to God. 

In consequence of an increased attention to the word 
preached by Mr. Embury, and Capt. Webb, the room in 
which they assembled became too small. They therefore 
hired a rigging loft in William-street which they fitted up 
for a place of worship. Here they continued for a time 
to build " each other up in their most holy faith." While 
Mr. Embury remained in the city, working with his hands 
for a living, and preaching to the people on sabbath, at- 
tending prayer meetings, &c, Capt. Webb made excursions 
upon Long Island, where he preached Jesus Christ unto 
the people with peculiar energy and effect. 

It was not long, however, before the rigging loft in 
William-street was found too small to accommodate a< ? 



INTRODUCTION. 



7 



who wished to asemble with them. To remedy this in- 
convenience, they began to think seriously about building 
a chapel. To this undertaking, however, there were many 
difficulties. The members of the society were mostly 
poor, few in number, and but little known among the 
wealthy and influential portion of the citizens. Being 
encouraged, however, by the exhortations of Mrs. Hick, 
a woman of deep piety and great intrepidity of mind, they 
made an effort to erect a house for the Lord. Meeting 
with more favour than they had anticipated, they finally 
succeeded in purchasing some lots in John-street, on which 
they built a house, 60 feet by 42, in the year 1768, calling it, 
in honour of the founder of Methodism, Wesley Chapel. 
While this house was in progress, T. T., in behalf of the 
society, addressed the following letter to Mr. Wesley : 

"New- York, 11th April, 1768. 
" Rev. and very dear sir, — I intended writing to you 
for several weeks past ; but a few of us had a very material 
transaction in view. I therefore postponed writing, until 
I could give you a particular account thereof : this was the 
purchasing of ground for building a preaching house upon, 
which, by the blessing of God, we have now concluded. 
But before I proceed, I shall give you a short account of 
the state of religion in this city. By the best intelligence 
I can collect, there was little either of the form or power 
of it, until Mr. Whitefield came over thirty years ago ; and 
even after his first and second visits, there appeared but 
little fruit of his labours. But during his visit fourteen or 
fifteen years ago, there was a considerable shaking among 
the dry bones. Divers were savingly converted ; and this 
work was much increased in his last journey about fourteen 
years since, - when his words were really like a hammer 
and like- a fire. Most part of the adults were stirred up : 
great numbers pricked to the heart, and by a judgment of 
charity, several found peace and joy in believing. The 
consequence of this work was, churches were crowded, 
k»d subscriptions raised for building new ones. Mr 



INTRODUCTION, 



Whitefield's example provoked most of the ministers to a 
much greater degree of earnestness. And by the multi- 
tudes of people, old and young, rich and poor, flocking to 
the churches, religion became an honourable profession. 
There was now no outward cross to be taken np therein. 
Nay, a person who could not speak about, the grace oi 
God, and the new birth, was esteemed unfit for genteel 
company. But in awhile, instead of pressing forward, and 
growing in grace, (as he exhorted them,) the generality 
were pleading for the remains of sin, and the necessity of 
being in darkness. They esteemed their opinions as the 
very essentials of Christianity, and regarded not holiness 
either of heart or life. 

" The above appears to me to be a genuine account of the 
state of religion in New- York eighteen months ago, when 
it pleased God to rouse up Mr. Embury to employ his talent 
(which for several years had been hid as it were in a 
napkin) by calling sinners to repentance, and exhorting 
believers to let their light shine before men. He spoke at 
first only in his own house, A few were soon collected 
together and joined into a little society, chiefly his own 
countrymen, Irish Germans. In about three months after, 
brother White and brother Souse from Dublin, joined 
them, They then rented an empty room in their neigh- 
bourhood, which was in the most infamous street in the 
city, adjoining the barracks. For some time few thought 
it worth their while to hear s but God so ordered it by his 
providence, that about fourteen months ago captain Webb, 
barrack master at Albany, (who was converted three years 
since at Bristol,) found them out, and preached in hi;- 
regimentals. The novelty of a man preaching in a scarlet 
coat, soon brought greater numbers to hear than the room 
could contain. But his doctrines were quite new to the 
hearers; for he told them point blank, 'that all their 
knowledge and religion were not worth a rush, unless their 
sins were forgiven, and they had " the witness of God's 
Spirit with theirs, that they were the children cf God/ 



INTRODUCTION. 



9 



This strange doctrine, with some peculiarities in his 
person, made him soon taken notice of ; and obliged the 
little society to look out for a larger house to preach in. 
They soon found a place that had been built for a rigging 
house, 60 feet in length and 18 in breadth. 

" About this period Mr. Webb, whose wife's relations 
lived at Jamaica, Long Island, took a house in that neigh- 
bourhood, and began to preach in his own house, and 
several other places on Long Island. Within six months, 
about twenty-four persons received justifying grace, nearly 
half of them whites, — the rest negroes. While Mr. Webb 
was (to borrow his own phcase) ' felling trees on Long 
Island,' brother Embury was exhorting all who attended 
on Thursday evenings, and Sundays, morning and evening, 
at the rigging house to flee from the wrath to come. His 
hearers began to increase, and some gave heed to hi? 
report, about the time the gracious providence of God 
brought me safe to New- York, after a very favourable 
passage of six weeks from Plymouth. It was the 26 th day 
of October last, when I arrived, recommended to a person 
for lodging ; I inquired of my host (who was a very reli- 
gious man) if any Methodists were in New- York ; he 
answered, that there was one Captain Webb, a strange sort 
of man, who lived on Long Island, and who sometimes 
preached at one Embury's, at the rigging house. In a few 
days I found out Embury. I soon found of what spirit he 
was, and that he was personally acquainted with you and 
your doctrines, and that he had been a helper in Ireland. 
He had formed two classes, one of the men and the other 
of the women, but had never met the society apart from 
the congregation, although there were six or seven men, 
and as many women, who had a clear sense of their ac- 
ceptance in the Beloved. 

" You will not wonder at my being agreeably surprised in 
meeting with a few here, who have been and desire again 
to be in connexion with you. God only knows the weisrhi 

2* W 



INTRODUCTION 



of affliction I felt on leaving my native country, But I 
have reason now to conclude God intended all for my good. 
Ever since I left London, my load has been removed, and 
1 have found a cheerfulness in being banished from all 
near and dear to me, and I made a new covenant with 
my God, that I would go to the utmost parts of the earth , 
provided he would raise up a people, with whom I might 
join in his praise. On the great deep I found a more 
earnest desire to be united with the people of God than 
ever before. I made a resolution that God's people should 
be my people, and their God my God : and bless his holy 
name, I have since experienced more heartfelt happiness 
chan ever I thought it possible to have on this side eternity. 
'All anxious care about my dear wife and children is taken 
away. I cannot assist them, but I daily and hourly com- 
mend them to God in prayer, and I know he hears my 
prayers, by an answer of love in my heart* I find power 
daily to devote myself unto him ; and I find power also to 
overcome sin. If any uneasiness at all affects me, it is 
because I can speak so little of so good a God. 

" Mr. Embury lately has been more zealous than formerly : 
the consequence of which is, that he is more lively in 
preaching ; and his gifts as well as graces are much in 
creased. Great numbers of serious persons came to hear 
God's word as for their lives ; and their numbers increased 
so fast, that our house for six weeks past would not con- 
tain half the people. 

Ct We had some consultations how to remedy this incon- 
venience, and Mr. Embury proposed renting a small lot of 
ground for twenty-one years, and to exert our utmost en- 
deavours to build a wooden tabernacle ; a piece of ground 
was proposed ; the ground rent was agreed for, and the 
lease was" to be executed in a few days. We, however, 
in the mean time, had two several days for fasting and 
prayer, for the direction of God and his blessing on our 
proceedings ; and providence opened such a door as we 



INTRODUCTION. 



had no expectation of. A young man, a sincere Christian, 
and constant hearer, though not joined in society, not 
giving any thing toward this house, offered ten pounds 
to buy a lot of ground, went of his own accord to a lady 
who had two lots to sell, on one of which there is a house 
that rents for eighteen pounds per annum. He found the 
purchase money of the two lots was six hundred pounds 
which she was willing should remain in the purchasers" 
possession, on good security. We called once more on 
God for his direction, and resolved to purchase the whole, 
There are eight of us who are joint purchasers : among 
whom Mr. Webb and Mr. Lupton are men of property. I 
was determined the house should be on the same footing 
as the orphan house at New-Castle, and others in Eng- 
land : but as we were ignorant how to draw the deeds, we 
purchased for us and our heirs, until a copy of the writing 
is sent us from England, which we desire may be sent by 
the first opportunity. 

" Before we began to talk of building, the devil and his 
children were very peaceable : but since this affair took 
place many ministers have cursed us in the name of the 
Lord, and laboured with all their might to stop their con- 
gregations from assisting us. But He that sitteth in the 
highest laughed them to scorn. Many have broken through 
and given their friendly assistance. We have collected above 
one hundred pounds more than our own contributions ; 
and have reason to hope in the whole we shall have two 
hundred pounds : but the house will cost us four hundred 
pounds more, so that unless God is pleased to raise up 
friends we shall yet be at a loss. I believe Mr. Webb and 
Mr. Lupton will borrow or advance two hundred pounds^ 
rather than the building should not go forward ; but the 
interest of money here is a great burden— being seven per 
,cent. Some of our brethren proposed writing to you foi 
a collection in England : but I was averse to this, as I well 
know our friends there are overburdened already. Yet 



12 



INTRODUCTION, 



so far I would earnestly beg : if you would intimate our 
circumstances to particular persons of ability, perhaps God 
would open their hearts to assist this infant society, and 
contribute to the first preaching house on the original Me- 
thodist plan in all America, (excepting Mr. Whitefield's 
orphan house in Georgia ;) but I shall write no more on 
this subject. / 

" There is another point far more material, and in 
which I must importune your assistance, not only in my 
own name, but also in the name of the whole society. We 
want an able and experienced preacher ; one who has both 
gifts and grace necessary for the work. God has not. 
indeed despised the day of small things. There is a real 
work of grace begun in many hearts, by the preaching ot 
Mr. Webb and Mr. Embury ; but although they are both 
useful, and their hearts in the work, they want many qualifi- 
cations for such an undertaking; and the progress of the gos- 
pel here depends much upon the qualifications of preachers. 

u In regard to a preacher, if possible we must have a 
man of wisdom, of sound faith, and a good diciplinarian 
one whose heart and soul are in the work ; and I doubt 
not but by the goodness of God such a flame will be soon 
kindled as would never stop until it reached the great 
South seaS-We may make many shifts to evade temporal 
inconveniences ; but we cannot purchase such a preacher 
as I have described. Dear sir, I entreat you for the good 
of thousands, to use your utmost endeavours to send one 
over. I would advise him to take shipping at Boston, 
Liverpool, or Dublin, in the month of July or early in 
August ; by embarking at this season he will have fint 
weather in his passage, and probably arrive here in the 
month of September. He will see before winter what 
progress the gospel has made. 

" With respect to money for the payment of the preach- 
er's passage over, if they could not procure it, we would 
&ell our coats and shirts to procure it for them. 



INTRODUCTION. 



13 



i: I most earnestly beg an interest in your prayers, and 
(rust you and many of our brethren, will not forget tlu 
church in this wilderness. 

" I remain with sincere esteem, Rev. and dear sir, 

"Your very affectionate brother and servant. 

In answer to the earnest request contained in this letter. 
Mr. Wesley sent over Messrs. Boardman and Pilmoor, and 
^50 sterling, as a " token of brotherly love." They were 
cordially received by the people here, and soon much en* 
couraged in their work, as the following letter from Mr 
Pilmoor will fully show : 

"Philadelphia, Oct. 31,1769. 

"Rev. sir, — By the blessing of God we are safely 
arrived here, after a tedious passage of nine weeks. We 
were not a little surprised to find Capt. Webb in town, 
and a society of about one hundred members, who desire 
to be in close connexion with you. ' This is the Lord's 
doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.' 

" I have preached several times, and the people flock 
to hear in multitudes. Sunday evening I went out upon 
the common. I had the stage appointed for the horse race 
for my pulpit, and I think between four and five thousand 
hearers, who heard with attention still as night. Blessed 
be God for field preaching. When I began to talk of 
preaching at five o'clock in the morning, the people 
thought it would not answer in America : however, I re- 
solved to try, and I had a very good congregation. 

" Here seems to be a great and effectual door opening 
in this country, and I hope many souls will be gathered 
in. The people in general like to hear the word, and seem 
to have ideas of salvation by grace." 

After continuing a short time in Philadelphia, Mr, 
Pilmoor made an excursion to Maryland, where he found 
,Mr. Strawbridge, and preached with some success. He 



14 



INTRODUCTION. 



likew ise visited some parts of Virginia and North Carolina s 
and witnessing the happy effects of his labours in the 
awakening of sinners, he formed some societies. In all 
places which he visited, he found people eager to hear the 
word, and kind to those who came to preach it. From 
hence he returned to Philadelphia, and soon came to New- 
York, while Mr. Boardman went to Philadelphia; thu^ 
commencing, in the early stage of their labours, a regular 
change from place to place. The society in New-York, 
under the labours of Mr. Embury and Capt. Webb, was 
in a flourishing state on the arrival of Mr. Boardman, 
whose godly simplicity and evangelical preaching were 
made a peculiar blessing to many. In this prosperous 
state of the society, Mr. Pilmoor entered upon his charge 
over them. As he thought it most prudent to make a fair 
trial before he transmitted his account of the state of thing? 
to Mr. Wesley, he deferred writing until April 24, 1770, 
on which day he wrote the following letter : — 

" Our house contains about seventeen hundred hearers. 
About a third part of those who attend get in ; the rest are 
glad to hear without. There appears such a willingness 
in the Americans to hear the word, as I never saw before, 
They have no preaching in some of the back settlements. 
I doubt not but an effectual door will be opened among 
them ! O ! may the Most High now give his Son the hea- 
then for his inheritance. The number of the blacks that 
attend the preaching affects me much." 

From these representations of the state and disposition 
of the people in America, Mr. Wesley was induced to 
concert measures to send them over more labourers. Ac- 
cordingly the next year, 1771, Mr. Francis Asbury and 
Mr. Richard Wright, who volunteered their services, were 
dismissed under the blessing of God for the help of their 
brethren in America. They set sail from Bristol, Sept. 2 
1771, and landed in Philadelphia the 24th of Oct. following 
They were received with great cordiality, "the peoph 



INTRODUCTION* 



15 



hardly knowing," says Mr. Asbury, " how to show their 
love sufficiently, bidding us welcome with fervent affec- 
tion, and receiving us as the angels of God." 

According to a notice in Mr. Asbury's Journal, vol. iii 2 
p. 109, it appears that when he arrived in this country, he 
found three hundred Methodists in New-York, two hun- 
dred and fifty in Philadelphia, and a few in New-Jersey., 
probably in all about six hundred. Those in Maryland do 
not appear to be included in this number. On the arrival 
of Mr. Asbury, he very properly judged that they could 
not expect a general spread of the work of God, unless 
they extended themselves into the country towns and 
villages. He accordingly led the way, by which the pros- 
pects of usefulness opened before them in every direction. 

By the faithful exertions of Mr. Asbury and those who 
were associated with him, the work of God extended 
among the people, and it was soon perceived that more 
help was much needed to supply the calls of the people. 
Indeed the people in many places, particularly in the 
middle and southern provinces — for so these United States 
were then called, being a part of the British dominions — ■ 
were but poorly supplied with the word and ordinances of 
Christ, and pure religion was generally at a very low ebb. 
A taste for experimental religion had, it is true, been 
created in some hearts, by the powerful preaching of the 
celebrated Whitefield, who, some time previously to the 
arrival of the Methodist missionaries, had travelled through 
the country, and preached with his usual zeal and success> 
The fields, however, at this time, " were ripe for the har- 
vest ;" and a faithful account of the state of affairs here 
being transmitted to Mr. Wesley, in 1773 Messrs. Thomas 
Rankin and George Shadford volunteered their services 
and came over to the continent : and the following year 
Messrs. James Dempster and Martin Rodda were added to 
the number. 

To Mr. Rankin Mr. Wesley committed the general 
snperintendency of the work, and he called the first regit- 



16 INTRODUCTION. ' 

lar conference in the city of Philadelphia, in the month 
>f June, 1773.* At this conference there were returned 
on the minutes 10 travelling preachers, and 1160 members 
of society. From the printed minutes of the conference 
for 1774, it appears there were 14 preachers who com- 
menced their itinerant labours in America, viz. William 
Watters, Abraham White worth, Joseph Yearbry, Philip 
Gatch, Philip Ebert, William Duke, John Wade, Daniel 
Ruff, Edward Drumgole, Isaac Rollins, Robert Lindsay, 
Samuel Spragg, Richard Webster, John King ; and three 
English preachers, viz. Thomas Rankin, Francis Asbury, 
and George Shadford. The numbers in society this year 
were 2073. Mr. Boardman, who was a man deeply devoted 
to God, and a sound able minister of Jesus Christ, and Mr. 
Pilmoor, it appears had both returned to England. 

From the above list of preachers it will be perceived thai 
the Lord of the harvest had raised up labourers in this 
country to cultivate his field. 

This sketch brings us down to the year 1775, at which 
time, according to the printed minutes, there were 19 
preachers stationed, and 3148 members in society. It 
was during this year that Mr. Freeborn Garrettson, who 
is to be the subject of the following memoir, was brought 
to the saving knowledge of the truth, and commenced his 
ministerial labours. I shall therefore close this introduc- 
tion by remarking that the above short account of the 
commencement of Methodism in this country, compared 
with what it now is, shows by what feeble and compara- 
tively inefficient means, God often accomplishes His work 
in the souls of men ; and that all this is done according 
to an inspired declaration, that " no man should glory in 
man, but he that glorieth must glory in the Lord." 

* This date corresponds with that in the printed minutes; but 
according to Mr. Asbury's Journal, this conference was held July 
U, 1773, and Mr. Drew, in his Life of Dr. Coke, in an extract from 

Mr, Rankin, agrees with Mr Asbury. t 



THE LIFE 



OF THE 

REV FREEBORN GARRETTSON, 

CHAPTER I. 

His ancestors— Childhood— Education— First Methodist preac i 
ers— His brother John— Illness— Death of his father— False sec 
rity — His awakening and conversion. 

* Mr. Garrettson was born in the state of Maryland , 
August 15, in the year 1752. His parents were mem 
bers of the Church of England, and educated their chil- 
dren in the same faith. His grandfather was an emigrant 
from Great Britain, and was among the first settlers in the 
province of Maryland, on the west side of the Chesapeake 
bay, near the mouth of the Susquehannah river. Being 
surrounded with the aborigines of the country, his situa 
lion was so perilous that he found himself compelled to go 
armed by day and night. The place where he first settled 
is still designated by his name, and is the residence of a 
branch of the family. 

Mr. Garrettson's father was a man of moral character, 
and esteemed by his neighbours as a good Christian. His 
mother truly feared the Lord, having been enlightened 
under the ministrations of some of the followers of the 
Rev. George Whitefield, who itinerated so largely and 
preached so successfully through the country. Though 
she did not connect herself with these people, she had 
frequent intercourse with them, and I have," says Mr, 
Garrettson, " frequently heard her speak of their piety with 
tears." He adds, " Those blessed men of God, the Ten- 
nants, in their itinerating tours, often preached through 
those parts, and their labours were blessed to many." 

3 



18 



LIFE OF THE 



The following is the account which Mr. Garrettsoi. 
givm of his early childhood : i( I was," as my parents in- 
formed me, "from my infancy prone to pride, self will, 
and stubborness. As far as I know of any one predomi- 
nant principle of my nature, it was a love of freedom and 
independence. I could easily be led, but it seemed morally 
impossible to drive me. When I was at school, if ever I 
got into a difficulty with any of my school mates, it was in 
consequence of my taking part with some poor children, 
who I thought were not treated kindly. With such it was 
a pleasure with me to divide my morsel." " It w 7 ould be 
well," he adds, " for parents to be acquainted with the 
native genius of their children, and to educate them accord- 
ingly. Had this been the case with me, perhaps I might 
have engaged in the work for which I was designed, under 
more favourable auspices, as it respects education." These 
reflections are certainly founded in the nature of things, 
and should be heeded, as far as practicable, by every parent. 
The following account shows the benign influence which 
parental example and admonitions have on young and 
render minds. 

" I was very early taught the Lord's prayer, apostles' creed, 
and the ten commandments, together with the catechism of 
the Church of England ; and was in early life restrained 
by my tender parents from open sin. It pleased the Lord 
to remove my dear mother into eternity when I was young. 
But I shall never forget the admonitions which she gave 
me. One Lord's day, when I was about seven years of 
age, my mother was retired, (I was sitting by her side,) and 
while she was reading the two last chapters of the Reve- 
lation, when she came to the place where it speaks of the 
tree and water of life, she made a full stop, and with eyes 
uplifted to heaven, and tears flowing down, " O !" said 
she, " that I may be happy enough to eat of that fruit, and 
drink of that water, in my heavenly Father's kingdom !" 

[ believe the blessed Spirit was with her, and I felt the 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



19 



divine operations : but I knew him not ; for we lived in a 
dark time. One day when I was about nine years of age. 
as I was walking alone in the field, it was strongly im- 
pressed on my mind, as if I had heard a voice, 1 Ask, and 
it shall be given you.' I was immediately desirous to 
know what it meant, and it occurred, to my mind, that this 
was a scriptural promise. But I, having no ideas of 
spiritual things, immediately ran to the house and told 
my elder brother it was revealed to me that I should be 
very rich. Shortly after this I was by myself and it was 
suggested to me, ' Do you know what a saint is V I 
paused a while in my mind, and answered, there are no 
saints in this our day on earth. The suggestion continued. 
' A saint is one that is wholly given up to God.' And 
immediately in idea I saw such a person, who appeared 
the most beautiful of any I had ever beheld. I was affect- 
ed, and prayed to the Lord to make me a saint, and it was 
strongly impressed upon my mind that I should be one ; 
and a spirit of joy sprung up within me ; but I had no one 
to open to me the way of salvation. 

" Some time after this, great afflictions befell my father s 
family : first a sister, then my mother, and then two serv- 
ants were removed into eternity. The ninth day of my 
sister's illness, she asked for nourishment, and ate heartily 
for one in her low state. After she had done she desired 
to be raised in the bed ; I am, said she, about to leave the 
world. The family were called together by her request, 
and were in a flood of tears : * Weep not for me/ said 
she, ' for I am not afraid to die. I am going to my Jesus, 
who will do more for me than any of you can do. ? I be- 
lieve her soul was happy. And the affecting exhortation 
which she gave will never be forgotten by me. When 
almost spent, she desired to be laid down, bidding all 
farewell ; and within a few minutes, with a smiling coun- 
tenance, she bid the world adieu. From her infancy her 
conscientiousness and uprightness were noticed by all who 



20 



LIFE OF THE 



knew her. It was not common to find her on the Lord't 
day without a Bible ; her old uncle, who was a communi- 
cant in the Church, used to say, ' Sally lives as she would 
wish to die.' From this time a melancholy gloom hung 
over me, and I frequently went alone to weep. I felt tha? 
I wanted something, but w hat it was I knew not ; for 1 
had none to take me by the hand and lead me into the 
narrow path. I know the blessed Spirit often strove with 
me, so that I have been melted into tenderness ; but I 
knew not the way of salvation. About this time I bought 
myself a pocket Testament, frequently withdrew to read 
it; and was much affected with the sufferings of our 
blessed Lord. Our unhappy minister was a stranger to God, 
and the most of his flock, I fear, were in the way to ruin 

" When I was about twelve years of age I was removed 
to another school, and I soon threw off all seriousness and 
became as wild as the rest of my young play mates. The 
most of my school hours, after I turned fourteen, were 
taken up in branches of the mathematics and book keep- 
ing, and the intervals of my time, in the study of astronomy 
I have often continued alone in the study of this till after 
midnight, without a serious thought of God, or my eternal 
welfare. Between the seventeenth and eighteenth years 
of my age I left school and began to think of living in the 
world. But alas ! I was careless, and carnal, though what 
the world calls a moral youth. I was fond of pleasure, and 
loved this world more than God. O! what reason have I 
to praise God for his goodness, in pursuing me with the 
overtures of mercy." 

The following account of the introduction of Methodise 
into this country, taken principally from manuscript notes 
which Mr. Garrettson had written to his printed journal 
corresponds with what has already been said on this sub 
ject in the introduction : 

" About this time there began to be much said aboui 
"he people called Methodists in Baltimore county where 1 



REV. F. GARRETT SON, 21 

then lived. The following is the manner in which these 
people commenced their work of love in this country : 
Mr. Strawbridge, a local preacher from Ireland, came 
to this province and settled at Pipe creek, in Maryland 
and Mr. Williams, another Irish local preacher, came over. 
These two men travelled, and preached considerably, and 
did much good. Mr. Strawbridge raised a society at Pipe- 
creek. About the same time Mr. Embury, a local preacher 
from Ireland, came over and settled in New- York, and 
raised a society. All this was before Mr. Wesley sent any 
regular travelling preacher to this country. Mr. Straw- 
bridge came to the house of a gentleman near where 1 
lived to stay all night ; I had never heard him preach, but 
as I had a great desire to be in company with a person 
who had caused so much talk in the country, I went over 
and sat and heard him converse till nearly midnight, and 
when I retired, it was with these thoughts, I have never 
spent a few hours so agreeably in my life. He spent most 
of the time in explaining Scripture and in giving interesting 
anecdotes, and perhaps one of them would do to relate 
here : * A congregation came together at a certain place, 
and a gentleman who was hearing thought the preacher 
had directed his whole sermon to him, and retired home 
after service in disgust. However, he concluded he would 
hear him once more, and hide himself behind the people 
so that the preacher should not see him : it was the old 
story ; his character was delineated. He retired dejected, 
but concluded, possibly the preacher saw me, and I will 
try him once more : he did so, and hid himself behind a 
door. The preacher happened to take his text from Isaiah ^ 
' And a man shall be as a hiding place,' &c. In the 
midst of the sermon the preacher cried out, Sinner, come 
from your scouting hole ! The poor fellow came forward, 
looked the preacher in the face, and said, you are a wiz~ 
zard, and the devil is in you; I will hear you no more. ,; 
, At the time of which we are now speaking there were 

3* 



LIFE OF THE 



several zealous itinerants circulating through the country - 
who had been instrumental in the conversion of souls, and 
,n establishing societies. 

" Many went out to hear them, and I among the rest, but 
the place was so crowded I could not get into the house : 
but from what I could understand, I thought they preached 
(he truth, and did by no means dare to join with the mul- 
titude in persecuting them ; but thought I would let them 
alone, and keep close to my own church. O ! those soul 
damning sins, pride and unbelief, which kept me from God 
and his people ! 

c; Blessed be God, it was not long after that his Holy 
Spirit began again to work powerfully with me. One day 
as I was riding home, I met a young man who had been 
hearing the Methodists, and had got his heart touched 
tmder the word. He stopped me in the road, and began to 
talk so sweetly about Jesus and his people, and recom- 
mended him to me in such a winning manner, that I was 
deeply convinced there was a reality in that religion, and 
i hat it was time for me to think seriously on the subject. 

" Not many days had passed before a little book fell into 
my hands, called Russet's Seven Sermons. By this book 
I was advised to make as exact an estimate of all my sins 
as possible ; I did so, and found they were numerous, for 
I began to see myself in the gospel glass ; and many were 
the tears I died over this book. I promised an amend- 
ment of life ; but my repentance was too much like the 
early dew. The way of salvation was not open to me, and 
there was an unwillingness in me to submit. But as my 
blessed Lord was not willing that I should.perish, his good 
Spirit still strove with me. One day as I was passing over 
n rapid stream, a log on which I had frequently gone gave 
way, and I was near being swept down the stream ; after 
struggling a while I got out, though much wounded among 
he sharp rocks. This query struck my mind with great 
weight, ' What would have become of your soul, had yon 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



2£ 



been drowned V I wept bitterly, and prayed to the Lord 
under a sense of my guilt. Still my stubborn heart was 
not willing to submit, though I began to carry a little heli 
In my bosom. 

" In May, 1772, as I was riding out one afternoon, I went 
down a descent over a large broad rock ; my horse stum- 
bled and threw me ; and with the fall on the rock, and the 
horse blundering over me, I was beaten out of my senses, 
I was alone, and how long I laid I know not ; but when 
I had in some measure recovered, I found myself on my 
knees, with my hands and eyes raised to heaven, crying 
to God for mercy. It came strongly into my mind thai 
had I then been taken into the other world, I should have 
dropped into hell. I felt my misery, and praised God, as 
well as I knew how, for my deliverance ; and before I 
moved from the place I promised to serve him all the days 
of my life. But before I arose from my knees, all my pain 
of body was removed, and I felt nearly as well as ever I 
did in my life. I also felt the drawing of God's Spirit, and 
in a measure saw a beauty in Jesus : but I did not know 
that my sins were forgiven ; neither was the plan of salva- 
tion clearly open to me ; but I went on my may deter- 
mined, by grace, to be a follower of Christ. All the 
Antinomians in the world could not make me believe, that 
a man cannot feel sweet drawings before he experiences 
justification. 

" I now procured a collection of the best religious books 
that I could ; among which were the writings of Mr. 
Hervey, The Travels of True Godliness, and Alleine's 
Alarm to the Unconverted ; for as yet I had not seen any 
of Mr. Wesley's publications, nor conversed on religious 
subjects with any of the Methodists, except the one above 
mentioned. 

" As I lived a retired life, I frequently read, prayed, and 
wept, till after midnight ; and often withdrew to the woods 
and other private places for prayer. In some measure my 



24 



LIFE OF THE 



name was already cast out as evil, though I was ashamed 
to let any one know the exercises of my mind,, or that 1 
used secret prayer : and in order to conceal it when in 
company, I have frequently grieved the blessed Spirit, by 
joining in trifling conversation ; for I was much afraid oi 
being thought a hypocrite. The Holy Spirit still pursued 
me, and I attended strictly to the duties of the family over 
which I was placed. I had as yet heard very few Method- 
ist sermons ; and the devil strove very hard to keep me 
from going among those people. Some time after, my iate 
well tried friend and brother, Mr. Francis Asbury, came to 
our country : I went to hear him one evening at R. W.V 
The place was crowded, but I got to the door and sat 
down. He had not preached long before I sensibly ieh 
the word, and his doctrine seemed as salve to a festering 
wound. I heard him with delight, and bathed in tears 
could have remained there till the rising of the sun, the 
time passed so sweetly away ; I was delightfully drawn, 
and was greatly astonished to find a person go on so flu- 
ently without his sermon before him. I suppose hundreds 
of thoughts passed through my mind. But I returned 
home with gladness, fully persuaded that he was a servant 
of God, and that he preached in a way I had not heard 
before. I followed him to another preaching place, and 
lixing my attentive eye upon him, I found him to be a 
workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the 
word. He began to wind about me in such a manner that 
I found my sins in clusters, as it were, around me : and 
the law in its purity, probing to the very bottom, and dis- 
covering the defects of my heart. I was ready to cry out. 
4 How does this stranger know me so well !' After ser- 
mon was ended, I wished not to speak to any. one, but 
returned home with my mind very solemnly affected. 

" Methodism at this time began in some measure to 
spread ; for the blessed God touched the hearts of several 
young men, converted their souls, and called them to 



REV. F. GARRETTSOX. 



25 



preach, which appeared to be a new thing in our country. 
Among the first were W.Watters, R.Webster, two brothers 
by the name of Rollins, and several others who began to 
exhort; they were zealous, their labours were blessed, 
and persecution arose : the cry began to be, enthusiasm- 
false prophets. Indeed, though I was under conviction, 
and had felt the drawings of the Spirit, I had my fears 
that matters were going too far, though I did not dare opeii 
my mouth against the work. 

" My father began to be troubled about me, and came to 
see me. We sat up talking till nearly midnight, ' I have- 
no objection/ said he, ' to your being religious ; but why 
would you turn from the Church V I replied, I have no 
intention to leave the Church, but whenever persons be- 
come serious, they are called Methodists, and their names 
are cast out as evil. After we parted I found great ten- 
derness of heart, and shed many tears in private, and many 
promises occurred to my mind. I loved the Methodists, 
and yet the enemy of my soul kept me at a distance from 
them. Unbelief and pride deprived me of the comforts of 
assurance. 

" In April, 1773, my brother John was taken dangerously 
ill, so that his life was despaired of. One Lord's day 
many of our relations and friends came to see him, expect- 
ing every minute that he would breathe his last. I was 
greatly concerned on account of his soul, which seemed to 
be just launching into eternity, and I feared that he was 
unprepared. I went round to the back part of the bed , 
and kneeling down, I prayed earnestly to the Lord to have 
mercy on his soul. After I had done praying I perceived 
his lips were moving, but could not hear a word that he 
spoke, till I put my ear close to his mouth, (apparently 
he was just going,) and heard him say, 6 Lord, thou know- 
est I am unprepared to die, have mercy on me and raise 
ine up, and give me a longer space, and I will serve thee ; 
thy Spirit has often strove with me, but I have rejected 



2G LIFE OF THE 

thee/ &c. Tims did he plead with the Lord for a consi- 
derable time. He knew, and so did I, the moment of time 
when the Lord answered prayer, and granted him a longer 
space. Immediately T rose from my knees, and told the 
waiting company they need not be uneasy, for the Lord 
would raise him again ; instantly the disorder turned, he fell 
into a doze, and within a few days was able to walk about 
his room. After his recovery, I conversed with him on the 
subject, and he told me that he saw death approaching, that 
he was summoned to appear in the world of spirits, and that 
hell was his doom. I knew, said he, when a reprieve in 
answer to prayer was sent, the blow averted, and the tender 
thread lengthened, on condition that I would give the 
remainder of my days to the Lord. A few years after he 
was really changed in heart ; he lived two years and eight 
months happy in the service of God, and died a witness 
of perfect love. 

" About this time the Lord laid me under his afflicting 
hand, and I was brought nigh unto death. During the time 
of my illness, I was in a very strange way ; I lay on my bed 
singing praises to God without any dread of death ; I felt 
my mind easy ; I thought if I was removed I should go to 
heaven ; I was willing to die ; I did not know my sins 
were forgiven ; but I felt a strong hope, though I was not 
fully acquainted with the plan of salvation. Who can tell 
what state my soul was in 1 I was a good Churchman ,* but 
a poor Methodist. Blessed be the name of the Lord ! He 
delights not in the death of a sinner, for he raised me up 
again ; but still the enemy of my soul strove to keep me 
from among God's dear despised children. 

" The August following, it pleased the Lord to take my 
father into eternity ; — surely it was painful to lose the ten- 
derest of parents. From my earliest knowledge of his 
family, consisting of about twenty in number, I do not 

* Religion in the Church of England was at this time at a very 
T ow ebb in Maryland, 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



27 



remember ever to have heard an oath sworn either by white 
or black ; and it was a rare thing for him to correct either 
children or servants, though still there was a trembling at 
his word. I frequently visited him in the time of his ill- 
ness, (for he had a long and tedious sickness,) and he 
seemed very fond of my company : I have reason to believe 
he went happy out of this dangerous world. Being now 
left in the entire charge of a family, and the settlement ol 
my father's business mostly devolving on me, I was sur- 
rounded with many cares and troubles, which were no help 
to the affairs of my salvation. The devil strove hard to 
drive away all my good desires, but still I attended con« 
stantly to my secret devotions, though at times cold enough 
It was not long after the death of my father that I had a 
particular interview with the new parish minister, who was 
a very clever man, of a moral character, and much respect- 
ed in the place. I was a constant attendant on his ministry, 
and frequently conversed with him on divine subjects. He 
told me the Methodists carried matters too far, that a man 
oould not know his sins were forgiven, and that all we might 
expect in this life was a hope springing from an upright 
life. This doctrine exactly tallied with my experience^ 
and was food for my fallen nature. I soon fully agreed 
with him in sentiment, and plead that no man could know 
his sins forgiven in this world. The grand enemy began 
now to exercise my mind in another way ; namely, to seek 
a literary qualification for the ministry in the Church. This 
hung upon me for a considerable time ; and I applied my- 
self to reading and study for that purpose, often consulting 
my new counsellor. The Spirit of the Lord at times strove 
very powerfully, and I was frequently afraid that all was 
not well with me, especially when I was under Methodist 
preaching. To these people I was drawn : but it was like 
death to me ; for I thought I had rather serve God in any 
way than among them ; while at the same time something 
within would tell me they were right. Being amazing] v 



LIFE OF THE 



agitated in mind, I at length came to this conclusion, to 
give up my former pursuits, bend my mind to the improve- 
ment of my worldly property, and serve God in a private 
manner. I now sat out in full pursuit of business, with an 
expectation of accumulating the riches of the world. 

" During the time of my self-secure state, I had the form 
of godliness, attended the Church constantly, and some- 
times went to hear the Methodists : [ fasted once a week, 
prayed frequently every day in secret places, endeavoured 
to attend strictly to the sabbath, often reproved open sin. 
and denied myself of what the world calls pleasure. I was 
so fast set in my way, that I thought I should certainly go 
to heaven ; and if at any time I was overtaken by sin, I 
would endeavour to mend my pace and pray more fre- 
quently. I cannot say I was always without doubts ; for 
often, under Methodist preaching, my poor foundation 
would shake, especially under the preaching of dear bro- 
ther George Shadford, and I would scarcely recover my 
hope for many days ; then I would be tempted to think 
they were a deluded people, and I would go among them 
no more : but still I was drawn again and again. I stood 
in a manner between the children of God and the world, 
When I was with the people of God I would endeavour to 
confute them ; and when I was among their enemies, I 
plead their cause. 

" One day, being at a distance from home, I met with a 
zealous Methodist exhorter. He asked me if I was born 
again ? I told him I had a hope that I was. Do you know, 
said he, that your sins are forgiven 1 No, replied I, neither 
do I expect that knowledge in this world. I perceive, 
said he, that you are in the broad road to hell, and if you 
die in this state you will be damned. The Scripture, said 
I, tells us that the tree is known by its fruit ; and our Lord 
likewise condemns rash judgment. What have you seen 
or known of my life that induced you to judge me in such 
a manner ? I pity you, said I, and turned my back on him 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



29 



But I could not easily forget the words of that pious young 
man, for they were as spears running through me. 

" In this state I continued till June 1775. The blessed 
morning I shall never forget ! In the night I went to bed 
as usual, and slept till day break : just as I awoke, I was 
alarmed by an awful voice, ' Awake, sinner, for you are 
not prepared to die.' This was as strongly impressed on 
my mind, as if it had been a human voice as loud as thun- 
der. I was instantly smitten with conviction in a manner 
I had not been before. I started from my pillow, and cried 
out, Lord, have mercy on my soul ! As it was about the 
commencement of the late unhappy war, and there was to 
be a general review that day near my house, I had pro- 
mised myself much satisfaction ; for I was a professed 
friend to the American cause : however, instead of giving 
my attendance, I passed the. morning in solitude ; and in 
the afternoon went out and heard a Methodist sermon. In 
sorrow I went, and in sorrow returned ; and in sorrow the 
night passed away. None but those who have experienced 
the like exercises, can form an idea of what I underwent 
for several days. 

" The enmity of my heart seemed to rise higher and 
higher. On the Tuesday following in the afternoon I 
heard Mr. Daniel Ruff preach ; and was so oppressed that 
I was scarcely able to support my burden. After preaching 

I called in with D. R. at Mrs. G 's, and stayed till 

about nine o'clock. On my way home, being much dis- 
tressed, I alighted from my horse in a lonely wood, and 
bowed my knees before the Lord ; I sensibly felt two 
spirits striving with me. The good Spirit set forth to my 
inmost mind the beauties of religion ; and I seemed almost 
ready to lay hold on my Saviour. O unbelief, soul damn- 
ing sin ! it kept me from my Jesus. Then would the 
enemy rise up on the other hand, and dress religion in as 
odious a garb as possible ; yea, he seemed, in a moment of 
lime, to set the world and the things of it in the most 

4 



30 



LIFE OF THE 



brilliant colours before me ; telling me, all these things 
should be mine if I would give up my false notions and 
serve him. His temptations of a truth might be compared 
to a sweeping rain. I continued on my knees a consi- 
derable time, and at last began to give away to the reason- 
ing of the enemy. My tender feelings abated, and my 
tears were gone ; my heart was hard, but I continued on 
my knees in a kind of meditation ; and at length addressed 
my Maker thus : Lord, spare me one year more, and by 
that time I can put my worldly affairs in such a train that 
I can serve thee. It seemed as if T felt the two spirits with 
me. The answer was, 6 Now is the accepted time.' I 
then plead for six months, but was denied — one month, 
no- — I then asked for one week, the answer was, 1 This is 
the time.' For some time the devil was silent, till I was 
denied one week in his service ; then it was he shot a 
powerful dart. ' The God/ said he, c you are attempting 
to serve is a hard Master ; and I would have you to desist 
from your endeavour.' Carnal people know very little of 
this kind of exereise : but it was as perceptible to me, as 
if I had been conversing with two persons face to face. 
As soon as this powerful temptation came, I felt my heart 
rise sensibly (I do not say with enmity) against my Maker, 
and immediately I arose from my knees with these words, 
i I will take my own time, and then I will serve thee.' I 
mounted my horse with a hard unbelieving heart, unwilling 
to submit to Jesus. O what a good God had I to deal 
with ! I might in justice have been sent to hell. 

" I had not rode a quarter of a mile, before the Lord met 
me powerfully with these words, ' These thi'ee years have 
I come seeking fruit on this fig tree; and find none.' 
And then the following words were added, ' I have come 
once more to offer you life and salvation, and it is the last 
time : choose or refuse.' I was instantly surrounded with 
a divine power : heaven and hell were disclosed to my view, 
and life and death were set before me. I do believe if I 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



31 



had rejected this call, mercy would have been for ever 
taken from me. Man hath power to choose or refuse in 
religious matters ; otherwise God could have no reasonable 
service from his creatures. I knew the very instant when 
I submitted to the Lord, and was willing that Christ should 
reign over me : I likewise knew the two sins which I 
parted with last, pride and unbelief. I threw the reins 
of my bridle on my horse's neck, and putting my hands 
together, cried out, Lord, I submit. I was less than no- 
thing in my own sight ; and was now, for the first time, 
reconciled to the justice of God. The enmity of my heart 
was slain — the plan of salvation was open to me— I saw a 
beauty in the perfections of the Deity, and felt that power 
of faith and love that I had been a stranger to before.' ' 



CHAPTER II. 

His happiness in God — Endures severe temptations— Frees his 
slaves — Reflections on slavery — Attends a class meeting- Declares 
what God had done for him — First speaks in public — Suffers per- 
secution — Holds evening meetings, and God blesses his labours — 
Conversation with the parish priest — Strong exercises respecting 
becoming a travelling preacher — Makes the trial—Then tempted 
to desist — Makes trial of his gift again. 

" After I found this pearl of great price, my soul was 
so exceedingly happy, that I seemed as if I wanted to take 
wing and fly away to heaven. Although alone in an un- 
frequented wood, I was constrained to sound forth the 
praise of my Redeemer. I thought I should not be 
ashamed to publish it to the ends of the earth. As I drew 
near to the house the servants heard me, and came to meet 
me at the gate in great surprise. The stars seemed as so 
many seraphs going forth in their Maker's praise. I called 
the family together for prayer, but my prayer was turned * 
into praise. 

" About midnight I laid down to rest ; but my soul was 



;52 



LIFE OF THE 



so happy in God I scarcely wished for sleep ; however, at 
length my eyes were closed ; but behold ! about day break 
I awoke, and was strongly tempted by the devil, ' O V said 
the adversary, ' where is your religion now ? It was only 
a dream.' I started from my pillow — I remembered the 
time and place where I received the blessing; and was 
enabled to repel that temptation. Again said he, ( It is all 
a delusion.' This assault pained me to the heart. Not 
feeling as I had done, I began to conclude perhaps it might 
be so, and betook myself to the fields and woods under 
deep distress. I frequently bowed my knees before the 
Lord ; and blessed be his adorable name, about nine in the 
morning my beloved Master visited my heart with his love. 
And I think I received as great a manifestation as at the 
first. This visit was attended with an impression to go to 
such a place, and declare to all who might be there, what 
great things the Lord had done for me. I went to the 
house, got my horse, and set out. When I arrived at the 
place, I found a Methodist preacher and several of my 
acquaintance ; and it was strongly impressed on my mind 
to deliver my message. I sat down among them, but the 
cross was too heavy. I sat hours and grieved the blessed 
Spirit till I was brought under heavy trials ; yea, deep dis- 
tress of soul ; and in that way I returned home. 

" For the good of others, I shall speak of a few days- 
exercise on this occasion. The blessed Redeemer left me, 
or rather hid his face from me : and I had to wade through 
deep waters. I fasted and prayed till I was almost reduced 
to a skeleton ; but did not open my mouth to any one. I 
was sinking into desperation. — O ! how powerfully was I 
harassed by the devil, day and night ! The Saturday fol- 
lowing I was walking through the fields ; all nature was 
clothed with beauty and verdure ; but I could discover no 
charms in aught around me ; I was under the deepest ex- 
ercises of mind, and severely tempted of the devil. 1 Ah/ 
suggested he, ' where is your God now?' He thrust 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



33 



atheism and deism against me ; and thus suggested to my 
mind, ■ You see you have been deluded ; and if you will 
now take my advice, you will deny every pretension to this 
religion. The Methodists are a set of enthusiasts, and 
you have now a proof of this.' Then with what splendour 
was the world exhibited to my imagination : ' All these 
things/ suggested he, * will I give you if you will deny that 
God you have been attempting to serve, and pray to him 
no more.' I was sunk as low as 1 could possibly be ; for 
my mind was encompassed with darkness, and the most 
severe distress. I was afraid my lips would be forced open 
to deny the God who made me. Glory, glory to my Lord ! 
who again gave me a view of an opening eternity, and a 
sense of his dread majesty ; the sight of which brought 
me into the dust, prostrate with my face to the ground, 
where I lay for a considerable time with language similar 
to this, If I perish, it shall be at thy feet, crying for mercy. 
Thus I lay till I recovered a gleam of hope that I should 
be saved at last. 

" I arose from the earth and advancing towards the house 
in deep thought, I came to this conclusion, that I would 
exclude myself from the society of men, and live in a cell 
upon bread and water, mourning out my days for having 
grieved my Lord. I went into my room and sat in one posi- 
tion till nine o'clock. I then threw myself on the bed, and 
slept till morning. Although it was the Lord's day, I did 
not intend to go to any place of worship ; neither did I 
desire to see any person, but wished to pass my time away 
in total solitude. I continued reading the Bible till eight, 
and then under a sense of duty, called the family together 
for prayer. As I stood with a book in my hand, in the 
act of giving out a hymn, this thought powerfully struck 
my mind, ' It is not right for you to keep your fellow crea- 
tures in bondage ; you must let the oppressed go free.' I 
knew it to be that same blessed voice which had spoken 
to me before — till then I had never suspected that the 

4* 



LIFE OF THE 



practice of slave keeping was wrong ; I had not read a 
book on the subject, nor been told so by any — I paused a 
minute, and then replied, ' Lord, the oppressed shall go 
free.' And I was as clear of them in my mind, as if I had 
never owned one. I told them they did not belong to me, 
and that I did not desire their services without making 
them a compensation : I was now at liberty to proceed in 
worship. After singing I kneeled to pray. Had I the 
tongue of an angel, I could not fully describe what I felt : 
all my dejection and that melancholy gloom which preyed 
upon me vanished in a moment, and a divine sweetness 
ran through my whole frame.* 

i( I had now no desire to confine myself to a cell, but 

* In how many instances in the course of our experience is the 
truth of the declaration of Solomon demonstrated — " A man's heart 
deviseth his way ; but the Lord directeth his steps." Such is our 
short-sightedness that we should often seek death in the error of 
our ways, did not our heavenly Father frustrate our designs and 
lead us in a way which we knew not. These remarks were sug- 
gested by the following reflections found in a manuscript note to 
his printed journal, which appears to have been written but a short 
time before his death : 

" I have since clearly seen the goodness of God in preparing me 
for future usefulness : I was a babe, and knew very little of the 
insinuations of our powerful foe. I shall always have an aversion 
to the practice of holding our fellow creatures in abject slavery, 
It was the blessed God that taught me the rights of man. I can 
now tell the present and rising generation that their privileges are 
very great ; formerly in this country darkness was all around, and 
now gospel light breaks forth from every direction. Formerly the 
unregenerate were in ignorance ; but now they have no cloak for 
their sins. The magnitude of a crime depends greatly upon the 
light we sin against. I shall not soon forget my solitary wander- 
ings in search of a suitable place where I could be excluded from 
the world. My plan seemed to be, to sell my property and put it 
to use, and have one person employed that I could confide in, to 
bring me, and do for me, what was really necessary . I had opened 
my mind to no one. When the blessed God brought me through 
these trials, all my schemes were afloat, and I was far from desiring 
to hide myself in a corner." 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



35 



wished to spread my Redeemer's glory to the ends of the 
world. I bless the Lord for leading me safely through 
such fiery trials ! My late affliction of mind was for my 
good. It was God, not man, that taught me the impro- 
priety of holding slaves : and I shall never be able to praise 
him enough for it. My very heart has bled, since that, for 
slave holders, especially those who make a profession of 
religion ; for I believe it to be a crying sin In the fore- 
noon I attended Church, but I could not find what I wanted. 
In the afternoon I went to hear the Methodists ; and some» 
thing told me, ' These are the people.' I was so happy in 
the time of preaching, that I could conceal it no longer ; 
so I determined to choose God's people for my people, and 
returned home rejoicing. 

" A few days after, I attended a class meeting on Deer 
creek, for the first time, and was convinced it was a pru- 
dential institution ; and my heart was more than ever 
united to this community. I told brother H., a pious man, 
what the Lord had done for me. I now began again to 
be pressed in spirit to visit my friends and neighbours ; 
and especially some particular families who lay with 
weight on my mind. The first visit I made, the man of 
the house was much enraged against me ; but my Lord 
gave me one or two of his children. Shortly after I visited 
another family; and the master was brought to cry for 
mercy, on his knees before the Lord. The third was 
nearly twenty miles off: I seemed to go with confidence, 
and got there a little before night : I told him what God 
had done for me, and desired he would send out and call 
in the neighbours,* and I would pray with and for them. 
The person did so, and after prayer I was obliged, for the 
first time, to open my mouth by way of exhortation ; and 
the Lord filled it, and sent his arrows to the hearts of three 
sinners, one of whom slept very little that night; and 
another followed me nearly sixteen miles the next day. 
" Shortly after I was brought into gospel liberty, I 



36 



LIFE OF THE 



thought it my duty to open religious meetings in several 
places, principally at my own house, and at the house of 
my brother John, where a blessed work of God broke out, 
and I took down the names of those who were awakened 
and converted and who expressed a wish to unite toge- 
ther. Though I had not yet joined the Methodists, I 
was considerably acquainted with them, had read some 
of Mr. Wesley's writings, and saw clearly that religious 
people ought to unite together. I formed a society of 
about thirty which I generally met weekly, and several 
of them were happy in God. I invited Mr. Rodda, a 
Methodist preacher with whom I had met, to come and 
preach a sermon , he did, and after preaching I told him 
there was a people prepared for him, that I thought him 
more capable of taking care of them than myself, and that 
if he would take them in, and give them regular preach- 
ing, I would deliver them up to his charge, which he ac- 
cordingly did. The next day he told me I must travel with 
him, which I did for about nine days; he preached and 
I exhorted after him. I then told him I must return home ; 
when he asked why, I replied that I was not disposed to be 
a travelling preacher. 

" It was now the enemy suggested that there was no 
other way for me to prevent or get clear of those itinerat- 
ing impressions but to alter my condition in life. The 
thought was so pleasing, that I employed carpenters to 
put an addition to my house. I received a letter from 
Mr. Rodda to meet him in Baltimore ; I did so, and after 
staying with him a few days, he told me that he wanted to 
stay in town a few weeks, and he wished I would take his 
circuit, and he would meet me at such a place. I attended 
every appointment for which I engaged, and we had precious 
seasons ; but instead of meeting Mr. R. at the appointed 
place, I cut across, and started for home ; I had about fifty 
miles to go. I called at the house of a pious old gentleman 
for some refreshments; he looked me in the face and said, 



REV. F. G ARREST SON. 



37 



Are you the young man that was with Mr. R ? I told him 
I was. Where are you going ? said he : Home, I replied, 
What are you going home for ? I do not intend to be a 
travelling preacher, I replied. From every thing that I 
can understand, said he, God has called you to that work, 
and if you reject that call he will pursue you. I replied, I 
cannot help it, I do not intend to be a travelling preacher, 

" I again attended class for the second time at Mr. D.'s ; 
and as they had not heard what had happened to me, some 
of them were fearful that I had come in to spy out their 
liberties. I arose from my seat, and, for the first time 
among the Methodists, publicly declared what the Lord 
had done for me. A divine kindling ran through the 
whole house ; and we had a blessed meeting. The leader 
offered to give up his paper to me ; but I refused, saying, 
I would visit them as often as I could ; and so returned 
home praising God. 

" I felt an impression to go to that brother I have before 
mentioned, who was raised from the jaws of death : he was 
in a seeking way ; but did not profess the faith of assurance. 
I begged of him to call a meeting in his own house, and 
I found great freedom to speak, and appointed another 
meeting ; about forty people gathered ; and while I was 
speaking, the power of the Lord came down in a wonderful 
manner : nearly half the poor sinners that were present 
were struck to the floor, and cried for mercy to such a 
degree that they were heard at a great distance. After 
the meeting was over, many continued crying for mercy, 

" The next morning a gentleman who lived not far off, 
came to the house to beat me : soon after he entered he 
began to swear, affirming I would spoil all his negroes. I 
told him if he did not leave off swearing, God would send 
his soul to hell. , He replied, ' If I said that again he would 
level me to the floor.' I assured him I would reprove him 
whenever he took the Lord's name in vain. He then rose 
op and struck me on the side of the face 5 and repeated his 



38 



LIFE OF THE 



blows. There were five of us in the house, my brother, 
his overseer, myself, and two enemies. I was afraid we 
should have had a general battle. My brother was only 
awakened ; his overseer had no religion, beyond a zeal 
for the truth, and such a love for my brother and myself, 
that he would almost have lain down his life for us. My 
mind was perfectly calm and my soul so happy that I 
scarcely felt his blows. I saw the Lord's hand in my 
preservation ; for though he was in so violent a rage, I had 
not been exhorting many minutes (with tears) before he 
was as quiet as a lamb : and he and his man, bidding us 
good morning, went away. Dear man ! not long after he 
was taken into an awful eternity. 

iS I now began to hold evening meetings in different 
places, several times in a week : and united those who 
were awakened into a kind of society ; and several, I trust, 
were happily united to Jesus. O ! what sweet times I 
used to have. Frequently we have continued singing, 
praying, and praising God till after midnight. Many of 
my relations expressed great sorrow for me ; but glory to 
God ! I delighted in the cross of my Saviour. I was as- 
saulted by many inward conflicts from the devil and the 
corruptions of my own heart ; but Jesus was precious to me. 

u 1 had an appointment one Lord's day, but before I got 
there a company of Belial's children gathered to prevent 
the meeting ; but blessed be God, I was enabled to speak 
boldly ; and although some raged and threatened me, my 
faith w T as so strong I did not believe they could hurt me. 
I shall never forget that day ; it was a time of rejoicing to 
my poor soul ! O that I may always give glory to my Lord ! 

" I was determined I would have nothing to do with the 
unhappy war ; it was contrary to my mind, and grievous 
to my conscience, to have any hand in shedding human 
blood. Accordingly I was brought before the officers at 
a general muster, because I refused to meet, as usual, to 
!eam the art of war, The general officer called me aside, 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



39 



we sat down together, and he asked me why I refused to 
muster as I used to do. I told him that a recital of the 
great things God had lately done for me would, perhaps, 
be the best answer I could give him. I then in a plain 
manner related to him my experience, and the happy state 
of my mind. Moreover, I told him that it was useless for 
me to learn a trade which I never intended to follow, and 
assured him, that it was not from any disaffection to my 
country's cause, but conscience, and a conviction that 
there was a greater work for me to engage in. My expe- 
rience seemed to take some hold on his mind, and he said 
he did not blame me at all, but he was sorry to lose me 
from the company, and he could not exempt me ; so I was 
called before the company, and I sat on my horse and 
exhorted more than a thousand people, whilst the tears 
flowed down my cheeks : however a court marshal sat on 
my case, and laid a fine of twelve dollars and a half yearly, 
but they never called for the fine, and I have never since 
been troubled with their military works. 

" It was impressed on my mind to have some eonversa^- 
tion with Mr. W — , the minister of our parish. He had been 
the means of keeping me from God and his people for a 
long time. We had a long discourse in the vestry cham- 
ber, before the vestry : where I told him what God had 
done for me. He desired to know who gave me authority 
to hold meetings in his parish 1 I told him I did not do it 
either for money or honour ; that while there were sinners 
in his parish, and the Lord pressed it on my mind, J. 
should call them to repentance. ' You have no right to 
do it,' said he, 1 unless you are ordained.' The love of 
God constraineth me, said I, and I must open my mouth 
in his cause. Having tasted his goodness, I have a long- 
ing desire that my neighbours should be made happy too. 
After a conversation of nearly two hours on the new birth, 
finding his mind disturbed, I told him in a plain manner 
what I thought of his doctrine, and what effect it formerly 



40 



LIFE OF THE 



had on me, and so our meeting ended. After I withdrew 
to my home, being young in the way, very few to strengthen 
and many to weaken my hands, I was sorely tempted of 
Satan to give up my confidence in the Lord. Under 
heavy affliction of mind I withdrew, and wrestled in prayer 
till the Lord visited me and dispersed every doubt and 
every fear ; giving me these words for my comfort, ' Fear 
not, I am with you, and will support you under all your 
trials.' O what consolatory streams flowed into my heart ! 
and how was I strengthened and enabled to rejoice in the 
Lord !" 

Mr. Garrettson observes that he has been thus particular 
in relating the exercises of his mind for the benefit of 
young preachers who may hereafter be induced to engage 
in the same work. And is it to be wondered at that the 
grand adversary of souls should thrust so sore at him who 
became an instrument of so great injury to his tyrannical 
kingdom ! Perhaps it is not too much to say that of all the 
Methodist preachers raised up in that day, there were none 
more devoted to the work, more zealous and useful, than 
the subject of this memoir. Being at the same time young 
in Christian experience, not having many examples before 
him of those similarly situated , he had not the many helps 
which are now generally afforded to young ministers of the 
gospel by the conversation and counsel of the aged and 
deeply experienced. 

What reason have we of the present generation of 
preachers, as well as the more private Christians, to be 
thankful to God for the various helps with which we are 
favoured. The experience of our fathers instructs us; 
their example stimulates us ; and the truths they delivered 
guide us safely on in our perilous course : while, if we 
imitate their example in their entire devotion to the cause 
of their divine Master, no doubt but we shall participate 
in their reward. 

Notwithstanding the natural aversion which it is appar 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



41 



lent Mr. Garrettson felt to enter the field of itinerant 
labour, the evident tokens of divine approbation which 
attended the commencement of his efforts, tended to 
remove his scruples, until his opposition was entirely sub- 
dued by the perpetual and powerfully inward calls of the 
Holy Spirit to this work. Call not this enthusiasm. The 

\ sequel of his life, so abundant in labours, so rich in sue 
cess, refutes the slander, and confirms the assumption that 
he was called of God and set apart by the Holy Ghost for 
the work of the ministry. It was from a consciousness of 
this call that Mr. Garrettson was enabled to go forward, 
and willingly devote himself to this labour ; and which 
so fortified his sonl against the assaults of temptation, 
that though he had to struggle hard, he finally overcame 
them all. Hence also arose that sweet peace of mind of 
which he so often speaks, notwithstanding the violence 
of his inward conflicts. To have " fightings without and 
fears within/' is perfectly consistent with a consciousness 
of the favour of God, and is therefore common to the ex- 
perience of all true Christians, and more especially to 
Christian ministers. Hence he says : 

" I found great liberty of speech, and the word was blessed 
to many souls, for the Lord greatly assisted me, and I had 
sweet refreshing seasons. O how happy might I have been , 
had I guarded against my powerful adversary ! but I had not 
been on the circuit more than fifteen days, before I gave way 
to his suggestions, and concluding that I was not called 
to this work, I left the circuit under deep dejection and 
returned home, determined I would never attempt it 
again. It was suggested that the more I went among the 
Methodists, particularly the preachers, the more my mind 
would be distressed about travelling. I was still willing 

i to speak occasionally about home ; but to go through the 
world, I knew not where, was a burden, as I thought, too 
heavy for me to endure. 

5 



42 



LIFE OF THE 



" 'Tis not in my power to give a full account of my exer- 
cises from the fall till the following spring. It may, how- 
ever, be necessary to touch on a few particulars ; for about 
four months I spent my time in prayer, reading, and such 
like exercises, except when I was from home, at preaching* 
or holding meetings myself. The idea of travelling, and 
preaching the gospel, was continually held up to my view. 
Frequently when riding, or walking, I was drawn out on 
divine subjects, and at times the Bible seemed all open to 
me : it was not uncommon for me to preach in my sleep. 
One night the whole world of sinners seemed to be exhi- 
bited as it were in the air, suspended by a slender thread, 
and the dismal pit beneath them. I saw them careless 
and unconcerned, in all kinds of ungodly practices, as 
secure as if in no sort of danger : in my sleep I began to 
cry aloud to convince them of their danger, till I aroused 
my brother, who then awoke me : I was sitting up in my 
bed, trembling, and as wet with sweat as if I had been 
dipped in a river. Although I lived so abstemiously, I 
had very little happiness, except at those times when I 
felt a degree of willingness to labour for my Lord. I have 
frequently stood astonished, wept and mourned in secret 
before the Lord, and entreated him to send some one else, 
that was more sensible and capable than myself : looking 
around in my mind and nominating such and such per- 
sons, whom I conceived to be more fit for the ministry ; 
saying, how can it be, that such an unworthy, ignorant 
being should be set apart for so great a work ? When on 
my way to my occasional appointments, I would promise in 
ray mind, that if the Lord attended his word with great 
power, I would consent to give up and labour for him. 
And at such times I have had great displays of the good- 
ness of God, and have seen sinners weeping all around ; 
but although my mind at those seasons was resolved, un- ' 
belief would again assault and overpower me. 

" In the month of March my conflicts were so great I 



REV. F. GARRETT SON. 



43 



almost sunk under them. The ungodly amongst my ac- 
quaintances knew not what was the matter with me : some 
would ask if I was sick, for I was much worn away, 
Others would say behind my back, he will come to nothing. 
I believe I had a more severe travail of soul before I sub- 
mitted to be an itinerant preacher, than I had gone through 
for justifying grace. One day being almost weary of life, 
and under deep dejection, I thought if the Lord would 
manifest his will, I would through grace obey. I was 
next led to inquire how I was to expect this desired favour. 
I kneeled down by the bed and prayed to the Lord, by 
some means or other, to make a discovery to me, in the 
clearest manner, of what he would have me to do. I 
arose from my knees without any particular answer, much 
burdened and greatly distressed. I threw myself on the 
bed again, and in less than two minutes I was in a sound 
sleep. I dreamed I saw the devil come in at the door, 
and advance towards me ; I thought a good angel came 
and spake to me saying, * Will you go and preach the 
gospel?' I replied, 'I am unworthy, I cannot go: 5 In- 
stantly the devil laid hold of my hand, and I began to 
struggle to get from him ; I saw but one way' that I could 
escape, and that was a very narrow one. The good angel 
said to me, £ There is a dispensation of the gospel com- 
mitted to you, and wo unto you, if you preach not the 
gospel.' I struggled for some time to get from him, but in 
vain : at length I cried out, ' Lord, send by whom thou 
wilt, I am willing to go and preach thy gospel.' No 
sooner had I thus submitted, than I saw the devil fly as 
it were through the end of the house, in a flame of fire. 
I awoke ; immediately every cloud was dispersed, and my 
soul was enraptured with the love of my Saviour. I 
wanted now to converse with some experienced person on 
the subject; my way now appeared so open, [ thought I 
should never have any more doubts to contend with. I 
believe it was the next day, I received a letter from bro. 



44 



LIFE OF THE 



ther D. R., desiring me to come and take the circuit a 
few weeks while he went to Philadelphia. I had no doubt 
but the Lord directed him to write thus. Before the day 
arrived that I. was to set off, the enemy strove again to 
prevent me ; telling me I was deluded, that it was only 
my own fancy, or the vanity of my own heart. After I 
set out I was pursued to that degree, I was ready to desire 
my horse might throw me, and put an end to my life ; or 
maim me so that I might not be able to go on. In the 
evening I got to brother D. R.'s, in Cecil, where he had 
an appointment for me ; but my exercises were so severe 
that I could say but little. The next day he left me, and 
I concluded to go on the circuit. Of all creatures in the 
world, I have the greatest reason to be thankful to the 
Lord, for his tender care of me, a poor weak rebel against 
him. At the first and second places to which I went, the 
Lord was powerfully present; and I believe good was 
done. I was now quite willing to be an exhorter ; but 
thought I would not take a text; T had not, however, 
travelled far before I had a text suggested to me, and I 
refused, till my gift of exhortation was almost taken away : 
and my mind was amazingly distressed again. 

" One sabbath I came to a place near Choptank bridge^ 
where I again refused to give out a text, and it pleased 
the Lord to hide his face, so that I was unable to speak 
with any degree of freedom. I went to my afternoon's 
appointment very low both in mind and body, having 
taken very little refreshment for several days. I deter- 
mined if a text opened to me, I would give it out boldly, 
and trust in the Lord. It was so, and I gave out, " Behold 
the man." I shall never forget the afternoon ; it was a 
time of power to me and many others ; the whole Bible 
seemed open to me. The next day I went to my appoint- 
ment, with some willingness to be a preacher. I gave out 
this text, tf The great day of his wrath is come, and who 
shall be able to stand." I endeavoured to show, as I could 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



45 



now awful that day would be ; who would, and who would 
not be able to stand, with the consequences to each 
class. The power of God in a very remarkable manner 
came down among the people, and hardened sinners were 
brought to cry for mercy. When almost spent, I stopt ; 
but the people continued praying. O, it was a memorable 
season ! my soul was happy, and my heart humbled. I 
was now willing to be a preacher, and thought, surely I 
shall never doubt again. 

" When brother D. R. returned, he took the circuit, and 
I went out to open a new one. As I passed along through 
Tuckey hoe Neck, I called at a house and asked the woman 
if she wanted to hear the word of the Lord preached ; if 
she did, to send and call in her neighbours : she did so, 
and I found great freedom. I gave out that I would preach 
again the next day. The man of the house was an officer 
of rank, and it being a day of general mustering, he 
marched up all the company, and I spoke to hundreds 
with freedom ; many tears were shed, and several con- 
victed, one of whom has since become a preacher. I 
continued several days in the Neck, and my labours were 
attended with success.* 

" I again met brother D. R. in Cecil county, where we 
had a quarterly meeting, and from thence we set out for 
Hartford. He solicited me not to fail attending the Bal- 
timore Conference. On the Lord's day following, an ap^ 

* " After I left brother Ruff, I was wandering along in search of 
an opening for the word, in deep thought and prayer, that my way 
might be prosperous. I came opposite a gate, the impression was 
sudden — turn in, this is the place where you are to begin. It was the 
house of Rev. E. Cooper's mother, and the officer was his step father. 
Ezekiel was about thirteen years of age, and as he has since informed 
me, he received a divine touch which he never lost, and some years 
after, he was happily brought out to testify of the forgiving love 
of Jesus, was called to the work of the ministry, and to eminent 
usefulness in the church of God. There is great cause of thank 
fulness for my feeble efforts in this little excursion," 

5 # 



16 



LIEE OF THE 



pointment was made for me to preach in my native place ; 
a multitude gathered, among whom were many of my old 
friends and relations, which made the cross very heavy, 
I gave out my old text, ' The great day of his wrath is 
come, and who shall be able to stand V Just as I had 
entered on the subject, I fainted under the cross, and fell 
to the ground, (I was preaching under the trees,) where 
I lay till water was brought and thrown on me, when I 
immediately recovered and was enabled to rise. I then 
proceeded, the subject opened to me, and we had a solemn 
season. Tongue cannot express or pen describe what I 
felt. Some of the careless ones said, ' He is not able to 
stand.' It seemed as if I could have lain down my life 
for my relatives and neighbours, had it been required. 
Thanks be to God, I trust some good was done. The next 
day I was most severely pursued by the enemy of souls. 
I was young, and very feeble both in body and mind, and 
greatly feared lest I should fall under the hand of my pow- 
erful foe ; but the blessed God had an eye upon me for good. 
On Monday I had a severe conflict about attending the 
conference. The exercise of my mind was too great for 
my emaciated frame. I betook myself to my bed and lay 
till twelve o'clock, then rose up and set off. I got into 
Baltimore about sunset. The conference was to begin 
the next day : I attended, passed through an examination, 
was admitted on trial, and my name was, for the first 
time, classed among the Methodists ; and I received of 
Mr. Rankin a written license. My mind continued so 
agitated, for I still felt an unwillingness to be a travelling 
preacher, that after I went from the preaching house to 
dinner, I again fainted under my burden, and sunk to the 
iloor. When I recovered I found myself in an upper 
chamber on the bed, surrounded by several preachers ; I 
asked, 4 where I had been,' as I seemed to be lost to all 
things below, appearing to have been in a place from 
whence I did not desire to return. The brethren joined in 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



47 



prayer, and my soul was so happy, while every thing wore 
so pleasing an aspect, that the preachers appeared to me 
more like angels than men. And I have praised the Lord 
ever since, that, though unworthy of a seat among them, 
I was ever united to this happy family." 



. CHAPTER III. 

Commences a regular travelling preacher — Severely exercised— 
Much assisted — Holds a watch night — Goes to Fairfax circuit- 
Preaches in the parish church — Great manifestation of the power 
of God^-Attacked by a Presbyterian minister on the doctrine of 
perfection — Farewell sermon — Lodges with a Quaker — Attends 
conference. 

" I was appointed to travel in the Frederick circuit with 
Mr. Rodda, and as the conference ended on Friday, I set 
out, arrived at Mr. W — n's, and the next day got into 
my circuit. I preached on the Lord's day with very 
little freedom or happiness to my own soul, the enemy 
still pursuing me with his fiery darts. At times I had 
sweet communion with my blessed Lord ; but a conscious- 
ness of my weakness and inability for the great work in 
which I had engaged, caused my hands to hang down. 
I was a young soldier, and knew but little about exer- 
cising the Christian armour. The goodness of God was 
great to me, in opening the hearts of the people to receive 
and bear with my weaknesses. 

" One day on my way to my appointment my difficulties 
appeared so great, that I turned my horse,, three different 
times, towards home. I was in a solitary wood, entirely 
alone ; I wept, I mourned, and prayed at the feet of my 
Lord, and was finally encouraged to go forward, and a 
sweet and powerful meeting we had. Sometimes when I 
have been at the appointed place, and the people assem- 
bling, I have been tempted to hide myself, or wish that I 



-4S 



LIFE OP THE 



was sick ; at other times I have envied the happiness of 
crawling insects on the face of the earth ; and I have con* 
stantly found that the greater cross it was to speak for 
God, the greater was the blessing, both to myself and the 
people. In these cases I seldom opened my mouth to 
speak in public but the power of the Lord was sensi- 
bly felt. My Bible, at particular times, would appear so 
small that I could not find a text. I remember one day, 
a congregation was gathered, and I was alone, under deep 
exercise ; and it appeared as if there was not one verse 
in the Bible that I could speak on : all on a sudden whilst 
I was on my knees before the Lord, the following text was 
powerfully applied : ' The Spirit of the Lord God is upon 
me, because he hath anointed me to preach glad tidings 
Ao the meek, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim 
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to 
them that are bound,' Isa. lxi, 1. I immediately met the 
assembly, and after singing and prayer, gave out the text, 
and the power of God descended in an extraordinary 
manner. Previously to this the people were so hardened 
that we had only four members in that place ; but before I 
left the house, twenty, who seemed to be that day broken 
in heart, were added to the society. We continued sing- 
ing and praying till nearly sunset, and there appeared to 
be very few in the congregation whose hearts were not 
touched ; my voice being almost lost in the cries of the 
distressed. O blessed be God ! this was a day of marrow 
and fat things to my poor heart. 

" Some time after I was requested to appoint a watch- 
night, to which I consented. Mr. R. was displeased that 
I had not consulted him ; but I was innocent, knowing 
very little of the discipline. Many people came together, 
and many of the children of the devil were angry and stoned 
the house; but the Lord was powerfully present. His 
people had a little paradise ; and I trust there were several 
new-born souls, and some poor sinners brought to tremble. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



49 



'/ 1 continued six months in this circuit, and blessed 
be God ! many were added to the society ; his children 
much quickened : and many happily brought into the king- 
dom of grace. My heart was closely united to the people, 
and they were remarkably kind to me. I thought it a 
great favour to be received as a preacher : and I verily 
believe the Lord inclined the hearts of the people to over- 
look my many weaknesses and want of knowledge ; and 
for the sake of his dear Son in a small measure owned my 
efforts. 

" I think it was in November I was sent to Fairfax cir- 
cuit, where I staid three months. I had many happy 
moments, and preached the gospel with freedom. I 
cannot say I met with much success, neither was I so 
powerfully harassed by temptations. I was now better 
acquainted with Satan's devices ; and I trust, had a more 
steady confidence in my blessed Saviour. I began to preach 
the word more freely, and was not so easily shaken with 
respect to my call to the ministry. I was now entirely 
willing to be a travelling preacher ; and blessed be God * 
he gave me favour in the sight of the people. 

" As there were many doors open for us in New Vir- 
ginia, and several small societies formed, Mr. Rodda 
thought it expedient, to send me into those parts of the 
country ; and blessed be my God ! I found a willingness 
to go any where, and to do any thing that would be of 
the least service to the church of God. I bless and 
praise the Lord for his goodness to me during my stay in 
that part of his vineyard, for he wonderfully enlarged my 
desires after him ; he increased my gifts, and opened the 
hearts and houses of the people to receive his servant and 
his word. Many were added to the society. 

■ • I visited Shepherd's town, lying high up on the Po- 
tomac river. On the Lord's day I attended the church, 
and heard their minister preach on * Keep holy the sab- 
bath day.' Though he was a man slow of speech, I think hi c 



50 



LIFE OP THE 



discourse took up only fifteen minutes. He said there was 
no harm in civil amusements on a week day; but they ought 
to refrain from them on the sabbath. I had no doubt but 
his discourse was his own composition. I do not remem- 
ber a word about the fall of man, faith, or repentance. I 
asked liberty, and went up into the pulpit after him, and 
gave out, c How shall we escape if we neglect so great sal- 
vation V Heb. ii, 3. After I had done, one of his hearers 
asked him what he thought of the doctrine the stranger 
had delivered 1 Why, said be, he seems to bring Scripture 
to prove it ; it may be so, but if it is I know nothing of it. 

" I preached every other Sunday in the church during 
my stay in this new circuit ; and the fourth sermon there 
were as many people as could crowd into the building. 
There was a great agitation among the congregation, and 
the word took such effect on the heart of a woman that 
she cried aloud for mercy. The people, being unacquainted 
with such things, strove to get out ; but the aisle and every 
place were so crowded, that they could not, unless those 
at the doors had first given way. In a few minutes the 
Lord set her soul at liberty. She clapped her hands in an 
ecstacy of joy, praised the Lord, and then quietly sat down. 
The whole congregation seemed to be lost in amazement, 
and the divine presence appeared to run through the whole? 
house i most of the people were melted into tears. The 
Presbyterian minister was among the crowd, and most of 
his congregation came to hear what the babbler had to say . 
This man with his deacon I met on the road a few days 
after. 6 1 was hearing you preach/ said he, 1 and I did 
not like your doctrine,' What was your objection, said I. 
6 Why it was a volley of stuff.' Well, I replied, if the 
Lord makes use of it to bring souls to himself, I wish to 
be thankful and satisfied. ' You preach perfection,' said 
he, ' and that I do not believe to be attainable in this life. 3 
Then, said I, you do not hold with the doctrine of our 
Lord and his apostles i our Lord says ? ( Be ye perfect even 



XIEV* F» GARRETTSON. 



51 



as your Father in heaven is perfect/ and the apostle says 5 
* The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. 5 When are 
we to be made perfect ? ' Not till death,' said he. Our 
Lord, said I, * came to destroy the works of the devil ;' 
and do you suppose he will call death to his assistance ? 
Death in Scripture is called the last enemy, and we learn, 
that as death leaves us judgment will find us ; and that 
there is no knowledge or work in the grave. And if we 
die in our sins, where the Lord is we cannot come : I 
want to know how death is to bring this about. ' Why/ 
said he, ' at the article of death, sin is done away, and 
not till then.' The Papists say, we must be refined by the 
fire of purgatory : the Universalists, that the last farthing 
will be paid in hell ; and you say, Nay, death will do it : 
but we profess to hold with the Holy Scriptures, which 
say, that ' his name shall be called Jesus, for he shall save 
his people from their sins/ Do you not, said I, believe 
that the Lord is able to wash and cleanse the soul from 
all sin one minute before death ? To this he agreed. And 
if a minute, why not a day, a month, yea, why not seven 
years? The apostle saith, ' Behold, now is the accepted 
time ! behold, now is the day of salvation ! J How dare 
any man limit the holy One of Israel. ' I have done with 
you,' cried he and his deacon, and so saying turned they 
their backs upon, me.* 

" A few evenings after, I preached near his house, and 
he and his deacon were present again ; a precious season 
we had ; a great shaking among sinners, and I expect the 

* " I shall here observe, that many things were said on both sides, 
which I penned in my daily journal ; the substance of which I gave 
to the public, and I have since examined my daily journal, and I am 
assured of the correctness of what was said. But I have to say, we 
were both beginners in the great work of the ministry, and pro- 
bably a few years' longer experience, and we should have been 
capable of handling the controversy more profitably. God alone is 
absolutely perfect. Among finite intelligences perfection can only 
be in degrees. Angels are perfect in their measure. Adam in 



52 



LIFE OF THE 



heart of the minister was also softened. He came to me 
after sermon, and asked my pardon if he had said any 
thing amiss. 

" Glory to God, he enabled me to travel largely through 
that country, to preach one, two, three, and sometimes four 
sermons a day. The last sermon I preached was from 
( Finally, brethren, farewell,' &c. This was a time not 
soon to be forgotten. A large congregation seemed to 
drink in every word ; such attention was given and so 
much of the divine presence felt, that I continued nearly 
three hours, and then the people hung around me in such 
a manner that I could scarcely get from them, begging me 
with tears. not to leave them." 

Thus ended the labours of this man of God in that part 
of the country for this conference year. And who that 
reads the preceding account of his travels, his mode of life, 
his indefatigable labours to promulgate the gospel of the 
grace of God, and witnesses at the same time the aston- 
ishing effects of his ministrations, but must glorify God 
in him ? To young preachers of the gospel in particular, 
this narrative of the manner in which Mr. Garrettson 
was called forth into the gospel field, and the various 
exercises of his mind, as well as the encouragement afford- 
ed him by the Head of the church, must be peculiarly inte- 
resting and profitable. How different the school in which 
his mind was disciplined to " the obedience of Christ" 
and prepared to become a competent and an efficient 
st minister of the New Testament" from that in which many 
are fitted by the art and device of men ! The instrument 

paradise was perfect in his measure. Christians may be perfect in 
their measure, and what we call Christian perfection, is a high 
degree of piety — to love God with every power of the soul, and to 
be saved from all sin, properly so called. 

" The apostIe v Paul describes it. ' to be enlightened, to taste the hea- 
venly gift, to partake of the Holy Ghost, to taste the good word of 
God, and the powers of the world to come.' * The blood of Christ 
cleanses from all sin.' ; " 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



53 



wa3 fitted for its work, and its effect was powerfully felt 
wherever it operated. 

After lodging and praying with a Quaker family " whose 
hearts the Lord touched," Mr. Garrettson attended a quar- 
terly meeting at Fairfax with Mr. Rankin, and then went 
to the conference which was held at Deer creek. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Deer creek Conference — Goes to Brunswick circuit, Virginia— 
Happy seasons in preaching on the way — Arrives on his circuity 
and finds a lively people — An officer interrogates him on the subject 
of fighting — Confidence in God increased — Great consolation in 
preaching — Tempting offers, which he resists— Whites and blacks 
much affected — Refuses the state oath — Escapes a threatened im- 
prisonment — Goes to North Carolina— Reflections on Christian 
perfection — Expediences perfect love, and preaches this doctrine— 
Narrowly escapes being shot. 

c< Our conference this year began at Deer creek the 20tk 
of May, 1777, and continued till the Friday following. I 
was greatly refreshed among the servants of God ; some 
of whom I have never seen since, nor shall again on this 
side of eternity. 

" My appointment was in Virginia, in what was called 
Brunswick circuit, with brother W. and brother T. After 
spending a few days among my relations and old friends* 
on Monday I set out for my circuit, and on Tuesday met 

the preachers at brother M r's in Fairfax: and the 

next morning we set out in company on our way. My 
appointment was much to my mind, and I had a lively 
hope that my Lord would be with me, and bless my weak 
endeavours to promote his cause. 

" We travelled several days before we met any Method- 
ists ; but the Lord befriended us, for we had happy times 
together ; and had an opportunity of preaching several 
sermons before we reached our circuit : we had a sweet 

6 



54 



LIFE OF THE 



season at the house of a good old man ; and I think we 
were providentially sent thither, not only for the benefit of 
the family, but likewise of many others. 

" June the 4th I parted with my company, and thanks 
be to God, my sour was refreshed as with new wine. The 
same day I was brought to the house of a kind widow, who 
sent out and called a company together. There was a 
young growing society in this neighbourhood. I preached 
from ' Fear not, little flock/ &c, Luke xii, 32. From 
what I could understand they had seldom had such a time 
of refreshing. I could say It is good for me to be here. 
My confidence still grew stronger with respect to my call 
to the ministry. 

" On the 5th of June I got into my circuit, and on 
Saturday the 7th, began my ministry among a lively peo- 
ple. I was attacked by an officer who wanted to know 
my mind respecting fighting. I told him God had taught 
me better than to use carnal weapons against the lives of 
human creatures. He intimated something about stopping 
me. I told him I was not afraid of man — that if he did 
not learn to fight with other weapons he would go to hell. 

" On Sunday the 8th of June, I preached at brother 

I 's to many serious people. While I was pointing 

out the gospel salvation there was a shout in the camp of 
Israel ; and after the meeting ended there was a rejoicing 
among God's people. I met the society, and was more 
than ever confirmed in my belief that the Lord had sent 
me into that part of the vineyard. I there met with a 
black boy who was happy in the Lord ; and I thought he 
exceeded all the youths I had ever seen for a gift and 
power in prayer. 

" Monday, June the 9th, I preached a few miles off, 
from these words, 4 Loose him and let him go.' There 
were as many people as the house could contain. After 
preaching nearly two hours, the cries of the assembly were 
so great that I desisted. The people continued together 



I 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



55 



a long time after, and I doubt not but several were set at 
liberty. O Jesus! thou still increasest my faith; thou 
givest me lively sensations of thy pardoning love ; and I feel 
that thou hast called me to the ministry of thy blessed 
word. At this meeting we were so wonderfully drawn 
out that we knew not when to part, having seldom felt 
the like. The next day I had great freedom to preach, 
and one soul was born of God. 

" Thursday, June 12th, I found liberty in preaching at 

Dr. C r's to an attentive, solemn congregation. I rode 

to Col. Taylor's and met brother F. P. We held a watch 
night, and I think I never had more freedom to speak. 
The word was blessed to the Colonel and his family, and 
they treated me ever after more like a son than a stranger ; 
yea, I may say, more like an angel than a poor clod of 
earth. And I, on my part, shall ever respect them for 
their kindness to me. 

" The next day I again crossed the Roanoke river, and 
had great liberty to preach from these words, * For lo, the 
winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers ap- 
pear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, 
and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land/ &c. 
After thic, we had a love feast, and many spoke freely of 
the goodness of God. In this place the people wanted to 
gain me with their kindness ; but I refused their obliging 
offers, being convinced I should do more good in wander- 
ing up and down the earth without any incumbrances: 
and as for riches, I had enough to serve my purposes. The 
temptation was considerable, and pleasing to nature 
Vain world, away with your flattery ! I could rejoice in 
my God, with the testimony of a good conscience, know- 
ing that the oblation was made for the good of Christ's 
church which he purchased with his own blood. It was 
no time to think of houses and lands, &,c. I passed on, 
rejoicing in God my Saviour, and was greatly encouraged 
in the blessed work. But halcyon days did not always 



LIFE OF THE 



attend me. I again experienced the severe buffettings of 
Satan ; but my exercises proved a blessing to me, for my 
soul was humbled, and I was made in a measure sensible 
of the need of a deeper work of grace in my heart before 
I could be completely happy. 

" Sunday, June 22d, in Roanoke chapel I preached to 
about five hundred whites, and almost as many blacks 
who stood without. I found freedom of mind, and many 
tears were shed by both white and black. The next day 
while I was preaching a funeral sermon we had much of 
the divine presence. In this way I continued around the 
circuit till the quarterly meeting, which was held in 
August, at Maberry's chapel. The Lord was with me, 
blest my endeavours, and increased my love to him and 
his people, in this circuit I conversed with some deeply 
experienced Christians, and by their humble walk and 
heavenly conversation, I was much stirred up to seek a 
deeper work of grace; especially by the experience of 

sister B . I believed there was such a thing as perfect 

love to be attained in this world ; and I likewise knew I 
was not in possession of it : I saw a beauty in the doctrine , 
and preached it, but it was at a distance. 

" About this time the state oath began to be administered, 
and was universally complied with, both by preachers and 
people where I was ; but I could by no means be subject 
to my rulers in this respect, as it touched my conscience 
towards God : so I was informed I must either leave the 
state, take the oath, or go to jail. I told those who came 
to tender the oath to me, that I professed myself a friend 
to my country : that I would do nothing willingly or know- 
ingly to the prejudice of it : that if they required it, I 
would give them good security of my friendly behaviour 
during my stay in the state. e But why,' said they, ' will 
you not take the oath V ' I think,' said I, ' the oath is too 
binding on my conscience ; moreover, I never swore an 
oath in my life : and ministers of the gospel have enough 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



57 



to do in their sphere. I want, in all things, to keep a 
conscience void of offence, to walk in the safest way, and 
to do all the good I can in bringing sinners to God.' 

" We began to labour under heavy political trials, as it 
was a little after the commencement of what we call the 
revolutionary war, and indeed the clash of arms was a new 
thing in our country, especially such powerful blows from 
an overgrown mother, who wanted to keep her children 
under subjection, in matters wherein they thought they 
were capable of judging for themselves. It might be 
asked, Why did you not comply with the law ? From 
reading, my own reflection, and the teachings of the good 
Spirit, I was drawn quite away from a belief in the law- 
fulness of shedding human blood under the gospel dispen- 
sation, or at most it must be in an extreme case, touching 
which, at that time my mind was in doubt. Again, I 
thought the test oath was worded in such a way, as to 
bind me to take arms whenever called on, and I felt no 
disposition to use carnal weapons. 

" Many of my friends endeavoured to persuade me to 
comply : alleging that I might be more useful among the 
people : but it was to no purpose. The rulers said, • You 
must leave the state.' This I cannot do, for first, the 
conference appointed me to labour in this state : and in 
the second place, I am confident that my appointment is 
approved of by my heavenly Father ; and therefore I dare 
not leave the state. ' Then,' said they, 1 you must go to 
prison.' That matter, I replied, I leave to the God of 
Daniel ; assured he is able to defend my cause, whether 
in or out of jail. 

"The many trials I had on this occasion drove me 
nearer to God, and as many thought that every sermon 
would be my last, more attended than otherwise would, 
and I found much freedom to preach the word, and good 
was done. 

M At a certain place several of the rulers bound them- 
6* 



5S 



LIFE OF THE 



selves to put me to jail, when I came that way again : my 
friends persuaded me to decline going there ; but I told 
them I could not be clear if I distrusted so good a God. 
Before I came round to that place, the Lord laid his afflict- 
ing hand on some of those ruling men who had threatened 
to imprison me; so that when I went there, several of 
them had already made their exit into eternity ! and an- 
other was lying at the point of death. I preached with 
much freedom, but though I had been chased for several 
months, there was none to lay the hand of violence upon 
me. The persecution from this quarter entirely subsided 
during my stay in the state. In this circuit I met with a 
number of inward and outward trials; but I bless God, 
that he ever sent me into this part of his vineyard : so 
that I can truly say, that the life and conversation of many 
of my worthy friends, (some of whom were older in the 
grace of God than myself,) were made a great blessing to 
me. O ! how shall I make suitable returns to my God 
for the thousands of his favours. 

" In September I went to North Carolina, to travel 
Roanoke circuit, and was sweetly drawn out in the glo- 
rious work, though my exercises were very great, particu- 
larly respecting slavery.* Many times did my heart ache 

* The question of slavery becomes more and more perplexing in 
these United States. It is an evil more easily deplored than extir- 
pated. Though it is cause for much gratitude that by the influence 
of the gospel many of the slaves are made better, and their masters 
have become more humane in their treatment of their slaves, all 
seem to agree that it is an evil much to be deprecated. It seems 
indeed like an inveterate disease of the body, the pains of which are 
sensibly felt, though not easily removed. What effect it may ulti- 
mately have on the body politic time alone must and will develope. 

In the present state of things in the southern states it seems un- 
available to contend for emancipation. The best, I think, which 
can be done to meliorate their condition is to bring, as far as possi- 
ble, all, both master and servant, under the influence of that immu- 
table law, binding on all human beings, namely, to do to others as 
we would they should do unto us in like Circumstances. Let slaves 



REV. F» GARRETTSON, 



on account of the slaves in this part of the country, and 
many tears did I shed, both in Virginia and Carolina, 
while exhibiting a crucified Jesus to their view ; and I 
bless God that my labours were not in vain among them. 
I endeavoured frequently to inculcate the doctrine of 
freedom in a private way, and this procured me the ill will 
of some who were in that unmerciful practice. I would 
often set apart times to preach to the blacks, and adapt 
my discourse to them alone ; and precious moments have 
I had. While many of their sable faces were bedewed 
with tears, their withered hands of faith were stretched 
out, and their precious souls made white in the blood of 
the Lamb. The suffering of these poor outcasts of men, 
through the blessing of God, drove them near to the Lord, 
and many of them were truly happy. 

"Respecting Christian perfection, I believed such a 
thing to be attainable in this life; I therefore, both in 
public and private, contended for it, and had often felt the 
need of it in my own soul : but I never had such a view 
of it in my life as while in this circuit. The Lord, in a 
very powerful and sudden manner, gave me to see and feel 
the need of this blessed work. Every heart corruption 
was discovered to me by the blessed Spirit, at the house 
of that dear afflicted mother in Israel, Mrs. Y. I have had 
many sweet moments with that precious family ; but she 
has since gone to Abraham's bosom. This discovery was 
made to me while I was alone in the preachers' room. I 
expected in a few moments to be in eternity : and the cry 
of my heart was, Lord, save me from inbred sin. The 
purity of God, heaven, and the law, with the impurity of 
my heart, were so disclosed to my view, that I was hum- 
bled in the very dust ; and expected never to enter into 

and masters be instructed in this great principle and act under its 
authority, and it shall ultimately work the entire destruction of 
slavery itself.*— Ed ixqr% 



60 



LIFE OF THE 



the kingdom of heaven without a greater likeness to my 
blessed Lord. I rejoiced that the cold hand of death was 
not upon me. For more than a week an earnest struggle 
continued in my heart for all the mind which was in 
Christ. My appointments were made, or I am apprehen- 
sive I should have declined preaching so pure a gospel, 
till the heart corruptions which I felt were washed away. 
The enemy strove very hard to rob me of my confidence : 
but although I was at times brought very low, yet I did 
not let go my hold of the dear Redeemer, the witness of 
my justification, &c. 

"One day I went to my appointment, and while the 
people were gathering, I withdrew about a quarter of a 
mile from the house and wrestled with the Lord in prayer : 
I thought I could not meet the congregation, unless I was 
delivered from my inbred sins. However, after the peo- 
ple had waited about an hour, I went to the house, but my 
struggle seemed to be at the height. I thought I would 
pray with the people and dismiss them. After prayer my 
Lord gave me this text, 4 Blessed are the pure in heart; 
for they shall see God.' Never had I such freedom before 
that time, to describe, 1st, the impurity of the heart: 2dly, 
how it is to be purified : and 3dly, the blessing resulting 
therefrom — That they shall see God. While I was speak- 
ing of the travail of a soul for purity, all my inward dis- 
tress vanished ; and I felt a little heaven on earth. I 
know that the Lord deepened his work ; but I did not 
claim the witness of ' perfect love yet my soul was happy 
from day to day. 

" From this time I began to preach the doctrine of 
Christian perfection more than ever ; the plan seemed as 
clear to me as the noon day sun. Many were convinced 
of the need of perfect love; and some were brought into 
the possession of it.* The word of the Lord prospered 

* What is this perfection ? It is not the perfection of God, or 
angels, nor the perfection of Adam in paradise, but it is Christian 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



61 



in the circuit ; and some of the children of Belial Were 
stirred up to persecute. One day a very wicked man 
came into the house while I was preaching; he sup- 
posed my discourse pointed at him, and stood for a con- 
siderable time, swelling, and threatening in his heart that 
he would haul me down and beat me. But before the 
sermon was ended, he gave heed to the things delivered^ 
and a spirit of conviction took hold of his heart : before he 
left the house he professed justifying faith; and I trust 
became a changed man. 

■ " I then went to the house of a Christian man, whose 
brother, living next door, was a violent persecutor. — 
While I was at family prayer in the evening, he ran over 
with a loaded gun, and stood with it presented for a con- 
siderable time, but had not power to draw the trigger. A 
few days after, he was in a rage with his brother on account 
of his receiving the preacher, shot at him, and slightly 
wounded his body. I was very thankful I escaped him. 

" In this circuit there was a blessed gathering of souls 
into the fold of Christ, many were convinced and converted, 
and at the spring quarterly meeting we had some lively 
witnesses of perfect love ; others were greatly moved to 
seek alter tnat deep woris of grace. a\wy to God ! I can 
say I had many blessed, happy moments while travelling 
the Virginia and Carolina forests, endeavouring to gather 
poor lost souls to the Redeemer's fold. 

" I have often thought that the consolations afforded 
me were an ample compensation for all the difficulties and 

perfection. It consists in the extirpation of all sin, in having the 
powers and affections of the heart purified, and the whole soul filled 
with divine love. 2d, How is this blessing to be attained ? As we 
are justified by faith, so are we sanctified by faith. 1. We are con- 
vinced of the need of it. 2. In general there is a sweet distress, but 
no guilt or condemnation. 3. We must by faith receive the pro- 
mises. Repentance disclaims all help in man. Faith lays claim to 
all the help in Christ. Repentance says, I can do nothing. Faith 
says. Through Christ Jems strengthening me I can d$ all tilings. 



62 



LIFE OF THE 



trials I met with, in wandering up and down in an ill 
natured world. And I often reflect and bewail my back- 
wardness, when I first entered so unwillingly as a labourer 
into my Lord's vineyard. But now, thanks to his dear 
name, I go willingly ; and desire cheerfully to obey all his 
commandments, and do all the little good I can to promote 
his honour and glory. 

" In May, I left the people to whom I found myself 
closely united, and in whose sight the Lord gave me great 
favour, and set out for the Leesburg Conference.'' 

CHAPTER V. 

From the conference in Leesburg, goes to the Peninsula, Md 
Persecution against the Methodists Its causes — Perseveres in 
his work — Beaten and bruised- Blessed effects of this opposition in 
his own soul - Preaches the word with great effect — Enters the 
state of Delaware, and preaches the word with great success — Goes 
to Kent island- Death of his brother John — Remarkable instance 
of conversion— Meets with opposition at Dover, but succe in 
preaching- Rescues a man who was attempting to hang himself— 
Conversion of an old persecutor — Not an enthusiast— Sinners flock 
to Christ — Delivered from the hand of the civil officer — Preaches 
and forms a sopifitjr in Qni^tico — Vi**-rji«o.*o=> i^fUucV/u-ptioin Oppo- 
sition meetings unsuccessful — Go d effectsof the gospel —Providen- 
tial interview with a strange woman — Work of God greatly prospers 
—Remarks on silent meetings — Great inward conflicts — Remark- 
able answer to prayer — The arm of the Lord made bare in the con- 
version of souls — The wicked persecute — Escapes unhurt - Silences 
an ignorant disputant And escapes imprisonment. 

" We had a comfortable conference in Leesburg, and 
May 20, 1778, I set out for my destined place. After 
preaching a few sermons, and visiting my old friends and 
relations, on the 30th of May I crossed the Chesapeake ; 
and in the evening had a delightful opportunity of press- 
ing the necessity of holiness on the minds of many, 
Blessed be God ! there was a shout in the camp among 
our blessed Saviour's despised followers : and I have no 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



63 



doubt but that the Lord directed my lot into this part of 
the work. 

" On Sunday I spoke in Kent preaching house with 
much liberty, and we had a sweet refreshing season. 
This was the first Methodist preaching house that was 
built on this shore. In the evening I was much drawn 
out in prayer and self examination ; and felt the sweet 
beams of the blessed Spirit, and experienced the bliss of 
prayer, with a comfortable hope that my Lord had deep- 
ened his work of grace in my heart. Four preachers were 
appointed by conference for the Peninsula — Brothers 
Hartley, Littlejohn, John Cooper, and myself. The ene- 
my of souls had stirred up a great persecution against the 
Methodists. Brother Hartley was taken by the rulers, 
and put in confinement. Brother Littlejohn thought it 
his duty to return to Virginia. And poor brother Cooper 
was too unwell to travel much : so that for a considerable 
time I was left almost alone.' ' 

This was a season peculiarly trying to the Methodist 
preachers. War knows no mercy ; and the mere circum- 
stance that the first Methodist preachers were from Eng- 
land, under the direction of Mr. Wesley, whose loyalty to 
his king and country led him to speak and write against 
the proceedings of the American provinces, was enough 
of itself to excite suspicions in the ruling party here 
against the preachers. The fact, also, as stated by Mr. 
Garrettson, that most of those who had joined the socie- 
ties, and especially the preachers, were from principle 
averse to w r ar, which led them to refuse to bear arms in 
their country's defence, tended to strengthen the suspi- 
cion, and of course to provoke opposition against them. 
But the following facts, which are recorded in the manu- 
script notes to the printed journal by Mr. Garrettson, show 
that some imprudences on the part of those whose exam- 
ple should have been of a different character, evince that 
these suspicions were not entirely without foundation. 



LIFE OF THE 



" To human appearance,'' says Mr. Garrettson, " our 
prospects were gloomy." In this place what was called a 
lory company embodied themselves, and a backslidden 
Methodist by the name of Chancey Clowe, who was once 
thought to be a pious man, of considerable note in the 
society, laid aside his religion, and began to raise a com- 
pany with a view to make his way through the country 
to the Chesapeake to join the British, whose fleet at that 
time lay in the Chesapeake bay. He succeeded in rais- 
ing about 300 men. He did much mischief before he was 
detected and his plans frustrated. It was not, however, 
before some blood was shed, that this mob was dispersed, 
and the leaders brought to justice. His excellency, Cesar 
Itodney, at that time governor of the state, was friendly 
to religion. Our enemies were assiduous in their endea- 
vours to prejudice his mind against us ; inculcating the 
idea that we were tories, and ought to be crushed as a 
body. He insisted on knowing how many of these insur- 
rectionists there were of each denomination, and when 
they found there were only two Methodists among them, 
the governor's remarks made our enemies look small before 
the court. They were all pardoned except C. Clowe, the 
leader, who was hung. This happened in the Peninsula, 
a tract of country lying between the Chesapeake and De- 
laware bays, comprehending a part of Maryland, part of 
Virginia, and the whole of the Delaware state. 

While these things were transacting among this class 
of people, Mr. Rodda, one of the British preachers, no 
doubt thinking he was doing God service, was spreading 
on his circuit the king's proclamation, and acting in seve- 
ral respects unbecoming the character of either a Christian 
or minister. He fled, however, to the bay, and employed 
a slave or slaves to take him to the British fleet, and thus 
just escaped with his life. The truth of history requires 
this record. As Philadelphia was at this time in posses- 
sion of the British, he was taken there, and from thence 



HEV. F. GARRETTSON. 



65 



to his native land ; and so we got clear of a backslidden 
preacher. 

u In the midst of these and many more troubles which 
might be mentioned, " says Mr. Garrettson, "God ena- 
bled me to go forward through good and evil report, and 
he stood by me ; and thanks to his blessed name, he ful= 
filled his promise, and I went on without fear." 

The above circumstances, however, as related by Mr, 
Garrettson, had a very deleterious effect upon the tran- 
quillity of the societies, as they tended very much to stir 
up the spirit of persecution against the Methodists. At 
such times when men's spirits are excited, they are not 
very accurate in distinguishing between the innocent and 
guilty : though the conduct of these few ought not to have 
implicated the whole body, yet it served as a pretence for 
those who wished for an excuse to reproach pure religion, 
" Hence," Mr. Garrettson observes, " it was soon circu 
lated through the country that the Methodists were ene- 
mies to the American cause : and were embodying them- 
selves to meet the English army. A short time before 
this, the English preachers had embarked for Europe ; 
and the conduct of Mr. R., as before mentioned, had been 
very injurious to the persecuted flock. During this time, 
Mr. Asbury found an asylum at the house of good oltl 
Judge White, and I believe none but the Lord and him- 
self knew what he suffered for nearly twelve months. 
We have since seen the hand of the Lord in his preserva- 
tion. 

" My exercises of mind were very great, and my friends 
in Kent, on every side, entreated me to remain with them* 
and not to travel at large at the hazard of my life. I was 
ready at first to consent, but had not remained more than a 
week among them, when my spirit was stirred within me, 
and I cried earnestly to the Lord to know his will. I felt, 
-an impulse to go. believing that God would stand by me, 

7 



66 



LIFE OF THE 



and defend my cause. And I received such a deep sense 
of God in my heart, and such precious promises of his 
parental care over me, that I took leave of my Kent friends, 
and sat out without any dread of my worst enemies. I 
then travelled largely through the country, preaching once, 
twice, three, and sometimes four times a day, to listening 
multitudes bathed in tears. 

" I shall not soon forget the 24th of June, 1778. O what 
a wringing of hands among sinners, and crying for mercy ! 
God's people praising him from a sense of his divine pre- 
sence. O how did my heart rejoice in God my Saviour ! 
I went through Cecil county, and part of Delaware state. A 
precious flame was kindled in many hearts, and many 
were brought to inquire what they should do to be saved. 
I visited Mr. Asbury at Judge White's, and found him very 
unwell. I had a sweet opportunity of preaching at his 
place of confinement. After some agreeable conversation 
with Mr. Asbury, I went on to Maryland, and had much 
liberty in preaching to our persecuted friends in Queen 
Ann. 

" In this place they threatened to imprison me ; but as 
they did not take me in the public congregation, I con- 
cluded they did not intend to lay hands on me : however, 
the next day, as I was going to Kent, John Brown, who was 
formerly a judge in that county, met me on the road. When 
I came near him, he made a full stop as if he wanted 
something ; apprehending nothing, I stopped and inquired 
the distance to Newtown. His reply was, You must go to 
jail, and he instantly took hold of my horse's bridle. I de- 
sired him in the Lord's name, to take care what he was 
about to do ; assuring him I was on the Lord's errand, 
and requesting him to show his authority for his proceed- 
ings. He immediately alighted from his horse, and taking 
a large stick that lay in the way, for some time beat me 
over the head and shoulders. Not being far from his 
quarter, he called aloud for help. I saw several persons, 



REV. F. GARRETTSOX. 



67 



as I thought, with a rope, running to his assistance. 
Providentially, at this moment he let go my bridle : had 
not this been the case, it is probable they would have put 
an end to my life ; for the beasts of the field seemed to be 
in the utmost rage. I thought the way was now open for 
my escape ; and being on an excellent horse, I gave him 
the whip, and got a considerable distance before my 
enemy could mount ; but he, knowing the way better than 
myself, took a nearer route, met me, and as he passed, struck 
at me with all his might ; my horse immediately made a 
full stop, my saddle turned, and I fell with force upon the 
ground, with my face within an inch of a sharp log. The 
blows 1 had received, together with my fall and bruises, 
deprived me of my senses. Providentially, at this time, a 
woman passed by with a lancet. I was taken into a house, 
not far distant, and bled ; by which means I was restored 
to my senses, but it was not expected I had many minutes 
to live. My affliction was good for me ; and I can confi- 
dently say, nothing induced me to wish to stay any longer 
in this world, but the thirst I had for the salvation of my 
fellow creatures. The heavens, in a very glorious man- 
ner, seemed to be open ; and by faith I saw my Redeemer 
standing at the right hand of the Father, pleading my 
cause; and the Father smiling as if reconciled to my 
poor soul. 

" I was so happy I could scarcely contain myself. My 
enemy was walking to and fro, in great agitation, wishing 
he had not molested me. I had a heart to pray for him, 
and desired him to sit down by me and to read such and 
such chapters. He did so ; I told him if he did not expe- 
rience that blessed work he would surely go to hell. I 
said, if the Lord should take me away, I had a witness' 
within me that I should go to heaven ; that I had suffered 
purely for the sake of our Lord's blessed gospel ; and that 
I freely forgave him. I entreated him to seek the salva- 
tion of his soul, and never again to persecute the follow- 



OS 



LIFE OF THE 



ers of our Lord. The poor unhappy man did not know 
which way to look. '1 will take you in my carriage/ 
said he, 4 wherever you want to go.' Notwithstanding 
this, when he perceived I was likely to recover, he went 
to a magistrate who was nearly as bitter against us as him- 
self, and brought him to me. 

" They both appeared as if actuated by the devil. With 
a stern look the magistrate demanded my name : I told 
him ; and he took out his pen and ink, and began to write 
a mittimus to commit me to jail. Pray sir, said I, are you 
a justice of the peace ? He replied that he was : why then, 
said I, do you suffer men to behave in this manner 1 If 
such persons are not taken notice of, a stranger can with 
no degree of safety travel the road. ' You have,' said 
he, ( broken the law.' How do you know that ? answered 
I ; but suppose I have, is this the way to put the law in 
force against me? I am an inhabitant of this state, and 
have property in it ; and if I mistake not, the law says for 
the first offence the fine is five pounds, and double for 
every offence after. The grand crime was preaching the 
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which 1 greatly rejoice. 
My enemy, said I, conducted himself more like a highway- 
man, than a person enforcing the law in a Christian 
country. Be well assured, this matter will be brought to 
light, said I, in an awful eternity. He dropped his pen, 
and made no further attempt to send me to prison. By 
this time the woman who bled me came with a carriage ; 
and I found myself able to rise from my bed and give an 
exhortation to the magistrate, my persecutor, and others 
who were present. 

" I rode to the house of old brother Dudley, and preach- 
ed with much delight, in the evening, to a few despised 
disciples, as I sat in the bed, from John xvi, 33, 4 These 
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have 
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of 
good cheer : I have overcome the world,' 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



69 



i4 1 can truly say, what I suffered was for my good, and 
I think it was rendered a blessing to the people in the 
vicinity : for the work of the Lord was carried on in a 
blessed manner, and I met with very little persecution in 
that county afterwards. (Some time after I preached the 
funeral sermon of the wife of the above magistrate, and he 
was very much moved.) In the morning I awoke about 
four, and desired the friend of the house, if possible, ta 
prepare a carriage for me by six ; as I had a long way to 
go and to preach twice. But being disappointed in getting 
a conveyance, though scarcely able to turn in my bed, my 
body being so bruised, I looked to the Lord for help, which 
was granted with sweet consolation. I mounted my horse 
about seven o'clock and rode about fifteen miles, and 
preached at eleven o'clock. O ! what a nearness I had 
to the Lord, while I held up a crucified Jesus to upwards 
of five hundred persons ! My face bruised, scarred, and 
bedewed with tears ! the people were for the most part 
much affected. I rode afterwards ten miles further, and 
preached to hundreds with great freedom. O ! how sweet 
my Saviour was to me ! It seemed as if I could have died 
for him. 

" After a few days respite I went to the place where I 
was beaten, and found that the persecuting spirit had in 
a measure subsided ; and that my way was surprisingly 
opened. I had many hearers, and the word was much 
blessed to many souls. The language of the hearts of 
many was, Surely this must be the right way. 

" The Lord was very kind to me in making a discovery, 
in a vision of the night, of the things I was to pass through ; 
and they came to pass just as they were made known to me, 

" From Queen Ann's, I again travelled through the 
Delaware state, and had many blessed opportunities of en- 
forcing the truth on the attentive multitudes that flocked 
together from various quarters. In the neighbourhood of 

Mr, S. the people had been deprived of the privilege of 

, 7# 



70 



LIFE OF THE 



hearing for some time, so that when I came among them 
I found them hungering for the word. I preached from 
6 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the 
moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with ban- 
ners? 5 Solomon's Songs vi, 10. I was so wonderfully 
drawn out, and my spirit so taken up with divine things, 
that I almost thought myself in heaven ; and many of the 
persecuted children of God seemed as if they would take 
wings and fly away. O ! it was a great day of awaken- 
ing power ! The lovefeast was also remarkable for the 
sanctifying operations of the blessed Spirit. Many of our 
happy friends came from afar, and returned with their 
hearts all on fire for God. Many happy moments have I 
liad among those loving followers of our blessed Lord. 

" Sunday, July 19, 1 visited and preached to the people 
of Marshey Hope. I was sorely tempted of the devil all 
the morning before preaching; he strove to destroy or 
weaken my faith. I was afraid I should not be a means 
of doing any good. I wept and mourned in secret, and 
sensibly felt the power of darkness, tempting me to believe 
I never had a commission to preach the everlasting gospeL 
There was an unexpected congregation ; and shortly after 
i stood up before the people, the devil and unbelief fled : 
and I gave out, 6 How shall we escape, if we neglect so 
great salvation V Heb. ii, 3. The word ran through all 
the congregation, and there was a great shaking among 
the people. Among the rest, a woman was struck under 
conviction, and she cried for mercy until she fell to the 
ground. Her husband was much offended, and I was 
informed that he threatened me, as he said, for killing his 
wife. After sermon I spent some time in praying for the 
distressed* In the afternoon, accompanied by many, I 
rode four miles, and preached from ' Cut it down, why 
cumbereth it the ground V and I found myself greatly at 
liberty. In this place a few months ago, the people were 



REV. F. GARRETTSO]Si 



71 



fast asleep, but now many are awaking up, and several 
united to Jesus. 

" After travelling and preaching with great freedom and 
success in the Delaware state, I was brought on my way 
in the heat of July to Talbot county, in Maryland, where 
I laboured for about two weeks night and day with tears. 
Many souls were refreshed, and I thought it good for me 
to be there. Sweet refreshing seasons had I among those 
dear loving people : I shall not soon forget those mothers 
in Israel, sister Parrot and sister Bruff, who are now 
lodged in Abraham's bosom. They, I trust, lived and 
died witnesses of perfect love. 

" In August I left Talbot, and, accompanied by several 
friends, went to Kent Island. I preached frequently to a 
very gay, high minded people, with freedom. An admi- 
rable change for the better has since taken place in that 
island. From thence I attended the August quarterly 
meeting in Kent, and had none to assist me except a few 
local preachers ; but the Lord was powerfully present, 
both in public worship and at the love feast. 

" I cannot help thinking the circumstance I am going 
to relate very remarkable. One day after meeting, my 
brother John came up to me and shook hands ; and look- 
ing me very wishfully in the face, without any explanation, 
said, ' I shall never see you again in this world.' It was 
even so ; for by the time I got round as far as Cecil, he was 
taken very ill ; and a few hours before I got to his house, 
he was interred on the east side of the preaching house, at 
the place where he bade me his last farewell, not more than 
two weeks before. He was my second spiritual son ; and 
there was an uncommon intimacy between us. His dis- 
solution was revealed to him some time before he died. 
An eminent physician was with him the evening before 
his death ; and when his wife, speaking low to the doctor, 
inquired how soon he supposed her husband would die, and 
was told that his life would not be prolonged until the 



72 



LIFE OP THE 



morning; he overhearing them, said, 'Doctor, I shall not 
go till eight o'clock in the morning.' He had his senses 
perfectly in his last moments, and the exhortation which 
he gave was striking. After exhorting his wife and a 
brother who lived with him, to stand fast in the faith, and 
entreating the servant to love the Lord ; in a very affecting 
manner, he said, ' Now there is but one thing which lies 
heavy on my mind, and that is, the case of two unconverted 
brothers. Tell them,' continued he, ' from me, I never 
expect to see them in heaven,' (they lived on the western 
shore,) e unless they repent, and turn to the Lord.' This 
he said to my brother Richard. Not long after they heard 
the message, they both sought and found the Lord. Thus 
were his prayers answered. At eight o'clock, as he had 
said, he resigned his spirit to his God, a witness of perfect 
love. He was beloved by all the people of God, and spent 
much of his time in the public and private exercises of 
religion. 

" This is the brother, who so solemnly covenanted with 
God, on a sick bed, that if his life were prolonged, he 
would give himself to the service of his Maker. To 
show the mercy of the holy God, I must say, after his re- 
covery, he was as careless as ever. I did not at that time 
enjoy the liberty of the gospel, yet at times I endeavoured 
to talk to my brother, and impress his mind with the solemn 
promises he had made, and how merciful his heavenly 
Father was in sparing him, &,c, but he would not hear, 
was rather displeased, and gave me to understand that he 
did not wish me to revive that subject. 

" Shortly after I was brought to an evidence of salvation 
by the forgiveness of sin, my brother John lay with great 
weight on my mind. I accordingly visited him, and while 
I was telling him my experience, I believe the blessed God 
touched his heart. With his consent I appointed a prayer 
meeting at his house ; many attended, and among others 
he was powerfully awakened and cried for meicy. About 



REV. F. GAKRETTSON. 



73 



three months after this, he received a clear evidence of 
his acceptance with God, and walked humbly before him, 
In the spring of 1775, he married a pious young lady in Cecil 
county, after which I saw very little of him for two years, 
as I was travelling in distant parts ; but I have every reason 
to believe, that he maintained a heavenly walk with God, 

" In May, 1778, 1 came to his house, and found him an 
humble follower of Jesus, and had sweet communion with 
him. He had the charge of three classes, in which there 
were about sixty members, walking in love and harmony., 
and they esteemed him as a father and guide. 

" He gave the greater part of his time to meeting 
the classes, and visiting from house to house as long as 
he was able. In his last sickness he praised God won- 
derfully, testifying to all around that he had found the 
blessing he had been long seeking for, the perfect love oi 
God. So my dear brother John lived, and so he died. I 
was about forty miles off — they sent for me, but a little 
before I arrived he was interred, so I did not, according 
to his word, see him again, neither shall I, till I see him 
in a better world, 

"In September, 1778, 1 returned to Delaware state; and 
on the 5th, for the first time, preached at Mr. Williams's in 
Muskmelon, a kind man who had been a Quaker. I had for 
several days suffered deep exercises of mind, especially while 
on my way to this place. The enemy of my soul suggested 
that the Lord was a hard master. The whole sabbath morn- 
ing I was sorely tempted in this way. This appointment 
was made for Mr. Asbury, which caused my trial to be 
greater. At the meeting there were between five hundred 
and a thousand people ; many of whom came out of curi- 
osity. I preached under a large spreading tree ; but the 
wind being high, I concluded to preach the second sermon 
in the house ; but the house could not contain half of the 
people. I gave out, e One thing I know, whereas I was 
Mind now I see.' Glory to Godi Jesus makes use of clay. 



74 



LIFE OF THE 



in this our day, to open the eyes of the blind. While I was 
in the first place describing the blindness of the human 
rnind, the Lord displayed his almighty power. There was 
a great weeping and mourning among poor sinners : I 
likewise felt much happiness, while describing the Lord's 
method in bringing sinners to himself, and in showing the 
blessed privileges they enjoy. How many were then con- 
vinced, and how many converted, I will not undertake to 
say, but I believe the number of both was great. I shall 
take notice of one instance of the power of God displayed 
at this meeting. A man noted for wickedness, came curs- 
ing and swearing, as he has since told me, but under the 
first head of the discourse, his sins fell, as it were, with 
the weight of a mill stone on him. e I would/ said he. 
* have run out ; but I was afraid to put one foot before the 
other, lest I should drop into hell, for the pit was disclosed 
lo my view ; and I saw no way to escape it : I thought 
every minute I should fall ; but I held myself up by the 
chair. O ! said he, under the second head of your dis- 
course, while you were holding up Christ, I saw a beauty 
Sn him; and without any dependence on myself, I cast 
my soul on Jesus ; in a moment the burden fell, my 
soul was happy, and I went home rejoicing in my Saviour/ 
I knew him six years after, and had no cause to doubt the 
soundness of his conversion. Among the rest an officer 
was cut to the heart, who soon after gave up his commis- 
sion, and became a pious follower of Christ. I do not 
think I ever saw a more powerful day in a new place. 
After meeting the people all around were begging to have 
preaching at their houses. Among other places, I ap- 
pointed to speak at Mr. Lewis's whose heart the Lord had 
touched ; he lived in Mother Kill, a place famed for wick- 
edness. Previously to my entering this place, the Lord 
awakened a woman of distinction by an earthquake ; she 
found peace to her soul shortly after I came to the place, 
md about a year after, she died a witness of perfect love 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 



75 



t preached at a variety of places in the country, and the 
work of the Lord went on prosperously. 

" When first I preached at Mr. Lewis's only a few came 
to hear ; but the numbers gradually increased ; souls were 
awakened, and I joined many to the society. In the second 
sermon, among others, a youth by the name of Caleb Boyce 
was awakened, and after a time became a light in the church 
of God. I preached at his father's, and the work of the 
Lord prospering, a large society was raised in that neigh- 
bourhood, which did honour to the cause of God ! 

"I bless God for it, I had many hearts, hands, and 
houses, opened around me ; and many inquired, ' What 
shall I do to be saved V The people about Mother Kill 
were brought up Presbyterians, and their pastor strove by 
every means to keep them from the Methodists ; but all in 
vain; they were convinced there was more in religion 
than a mere form. Multitudes gathered to hear the word, 
and many large societies were formed in different places. 

" September 12th, 1778, was the first day of my enter- 
ing the town of Dover, quite an irreligious place. I had 
desired for some time to attack this place, but had no 
opening, till an old gentleman came one day and heard me 
preach at Mr. Shaw's : his heart was touched, and he gave 
me an invitation to preach in the academy. Scarcely had 
I alighted from my horse before I was surrounded by hun- 
dreds; some cried one thing, some another; some said, 
he is a good man ; others said, nay, he deceiveth the people 
— and I was also accused of being a friend to King George. 
They cried, ' He is one of Clowe's men — hang him — hang 
him.' I know not what the event would have been, had 
not the Lord interposed. There were so many voices 
heard, that I had no possible chance to speak for myself ; 
and to all human appearance, I was in a fair way to tye 
torn in pieces every moment : I was, however, rescued by 
several gentlemen of the town, who hearing the uproar 
ran to my assistance. 



76 



LIFE OF THE 



" The chief of these were Mr. Pryor , a merchant, who was 
formerly awakened under Mr. Whitefield, Mr. Lockerman, 
and the alderman of the town. The little squire pressed 
through the crowd, Zaccheus like, and taking me by the 
hand, led me through the mob, desiring me to preach and he 
would stand by me. I mounted the stage at the door of the 
academy : the people flocked round, both within and with- 
out. After singing and prayer, I gave out, 4 If it bear fruit, 
well, and if not, then after that, thou shalt cut it down. 5 
The Lord was with me in truth. It was not difficult for 
me to speak so as to be heard a quarter of a mile. Many 
who did not come to the place, heard me from their gar- 
dens and windows. We had much of the presence of the 
Lord with us. We rarely see such a weeping company 
in a new place. One woman, who sat in her window 
more than a quarter of a mile off, was powerfully wrought 
upon. She knew no rest day nor night, till she found a 
resting place in her heart for the God of Jacob. It was 
thought by some of my Christian friends, who accompanied 
me, that very few of the extensive congregation were left 
without a witness on their hearts of the truth of what was 
delivered : more than twenty got the word of truth so fast- 
ened, that they did not desire to lose it, and it terminated, 
I trust, in a sound conversion of the souls of many. 

" The mob hung their heads ; many of them were af- 
fected ; their ringleader said, as I was informed, he would 
come and ask my pardon if he thought I would forgive 
him : I understood he betook himself from that day to 
reading the Bible ; and never again, to my knowledge, 
persecuted the children of God. 

" In the evening I lectured at Mr. Smether's, the old 
gentleman who had first given me an invitation to the town. 
Many of the chief people of the place came to hear, and 
we had a very solemn time. When I withdrew to my 
room, I was severely buffeted by Satan. I felt as misera- 
ble as Jon ah under his withered gourd : it seemed as though 



REV. P. GARRETTSOtf. 



I had given all to the people, and had nothing left for my- 
self. Ah ! said the enemy, the Lord will make use of you 
for the good of others, and then cast you away, as a parent 
does a rod after correcting the child. I was in such deep 
exercise, that I could scarcely close my eyes throughout 
the night, but passed the greater part of it away in sighs 
and groans and silence before the Lord. I believe I was 
permitted to be thus tried in order to keep me at the feet 
of my Saviour, and hope I shall be always thankful for his 
kind dealings with me. 

" Monday, September 13th, I preached a few miles out 
of town, accompanied by many, and the Lord was with us. 
In the afternoon I returned and found many mourning 
after Christ; but the devil and some of his adherents 
were striving to make them believe that what I had told 
them was a delusion ; but they were not successful, i 
joined those who were deeply awakened into a society ; 
and the Lord was with them, spreading his work and con- 
verting the souls of many : among the rest there was an 
old lady stripped of her own righteousness, who had been 
a communicant in the church for many years ; also ten of 
her children with their husbands and wives were brought 
under concern for their souls. I preached at her house* 
when sixteen or eighteen of her children and children in 
law were present. The old lady was mourning ; but se- 
veral of them the Lord had set at liberty ; and before many- 
months he visited the old lady with his forgiving love, as 
well as the most of her children. Such a family as thisf 
have seldom seen in any part of America. 

" The fields appeared white for harvest ; but the labour- 
ers were very few. I was engaged in strong cries to 
the Lord, to open the way and send out more ; and blessed 
be his name, he raised up several young men, and sent 
others from the western shore. I wrote to Mr. Asbury t 
who was at Judge White's, informing him how matters , 
were, that bis way was open into any part of the state, an6 

8 



78 LIFE OF THE 

I requested him to make a visit to Dover: he did 
and brought in many whom I could not reach. The Lord 
gave us great favour in the sight of Dr. Magaw, minister of 
the church, and he proved a great blessing to the cause of 
Methodism. The prejudices of the people began to fall 
astonishingly, and hundreds were enabled to rejoice in the 
kingdom of grace, 

" The 19th of September, 1778,1 attended the funeral 
of my brother, and a solemn season it was ; my youngest 
brother was there from Baltimore, a wild youth, but the 
Lord laid his convincing hand upon him, and he returned 
a penitent mourner. In a few weeks he returned to see me, 
and continued with me till the Lord set his soul at liberty, 

" Monday, September 20th, as I was meditating and 
walking through the fields, I heard the cries of one on the 
top of a tree : and lifting up my eyes, I saw a man about 
taking away his own life. A rope was tied to a limb with 
a noose in it, and the poor wretch bemoaning himself 
thus — \ O what a wretch I am ! once I had a day of grace, 
but now it is a gone case with me ! — I may as well put an 
end to my wretched life V He then made a motion to put 
the rope over his head, bidding the world farewell. I 
instantly called to him, and told him to stop a few 
minutes while I conversed with him. He did so; and 
after some time I persuaded him to refrain from his wicked 
intention, and come down from the tree. In the course 
of our conversation, I found the good Spirit had from time 
to time strove with him, but he had rejected the offers of 
mercy. At length the arch fiend persuaded him his day 
of grace was past, and that he had better know his doom 
as quickly as possible. My being an instrument (to human 
appearance) of saving the life of a human being, as well 
as, perhaps, an immortal soul, was no small comfort to me. 

" Tuesday I rode as far as Queen Anne's, and found a 
very prosperous work going on. I was very comfortable 
in my own soul ; and experienced it to be sweet to wait on 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



79 



irod in secret. I found many hungering for the word, and 
had liberty in preaching. 

" Wednesday, September 22d, I awoke and arose early 
from my pillow, felt a great nearness to the Lord, and had a 
sweet time in secret. I visited poor John White, a brother 
of the Dr., and found him near death, and in his sins. In his 
health he was a great persecutor ; but now a penitent, beg- 
ging the prayers of those he once despised. — O ! how did 
he exhort his old companions to flee from their sins, and to 
take warning from him. I was greatly affected with his 
situation, and did not find freedom to leave him in the 
arms of the devil. ' O !' cried he, ' I am sleeping over hell V 
I prayed with him frequently, and still it was impressed 
on my mind not to leave him. I had a travail of soul 
for this young man ; and retiring into a secret place, 
I wrestled with the Lord for him a long time; and 
I thought the Lord would surely grant him favour. 
When I returned to the house and called the family toge- 
ther again for prayer, several of them were happy in the 
Lord. In the time of prayer the Lord set his soul at 
liberty ; and I do not entertain a doubt but that he went to 
rest. — O ! what a blessed thing it is in such a case to have 
Christian friends ! — He spoke freely of the love of God 
which he felt in his soul, and of his willingness to die. Num« 
bers attended his funeral ; and I preached a sermon with 
much liberty on ' I heard a voice from heaven, saying 
unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the 
Lord, from henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest 
from their labours, and their works do follow them,' Rev, 
xiv, 13. The Lord was present, and I trust measurably 
accompanied his word. 

" Individuals thought me an enthusiast, because I talked 
so much about feelings, and having impressions to go to 
particular places. I know the word of God is our infalli- 
ble guide, and by it we are to try all our dreams and 
feelings, I also know, that both sleeping and waking. 



80 



LIFE OF THE 



things of a divine nature have been revealed to me. 
One night the state of the people in Somerset and Sus- 
sex counties seemed to be shown me. In my dream I 
thought I had a large circuit formed ; and the people were 
gathering to the banner of our Lord. On Friday, October 
22d, I set out to form a circuit in those counties. On 
Sunday 24th I arrived, and had an opportunity of preach- 
ing in a forest, both morning and afternoon, to hundreds 
who gathered to hear the new doctrine. I suppose many 
of them expected to be greatly diverted ; for they were 
a people who had neither the form nor power of godli- 
ness. My text was, 4 Behold the Lamb of God, which 
faketh away the sin of the world,' John i, 29. The first 
sermon was only preparatory to the second, which I 
preached after a few minutes intermission from 6 And I 
saw the dead, both small and great, stand before God, and 
the books were opened, and another book was opened , 
which was the book of life, and the dead were judged out 
of those things written in the books, according to their 
works/ Rev. xx, 1£. I was convinced my impressions in 
respect to this place were not enthusiastic, for the power 
of God was very manifest in the congregation ; and there 
was weeping on every side. I suppose that more than 
thirty were powerfully wrought upon, all of whom not long 
after joined the society. I had invitations to preach from 
various quarters. The way was prepared in the same 
manner in which the Lord had revealed it to me ; and sin- 
ners flocked to Jesus. Some of the people among whom 
I went, appeared as familiar to me as if I had been there 
frequently before. 

" Monday, September 25th, I preached a funeral ser- 
mon in the same neighbourhood ; and the devil sent out a 
woman with a pistol or two to shoot me. While I was 
preaching from f Acquaint now thyself with him, and be 
at peace, thereby good shall come unto thee/ Job xxii, 21. 
she came in, and made so much noise that I stopped til! 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



81 



tliey put her out and shut the door. O ! how precious this 
season was to me! The divine power was sensibly felt 
among the people. After the sermon many hung around 
me in tears, begging of me to pray for them, and likewise 
to visit them, and not to let the disturbance prevent my 
coming among them again. 

" The wife of Mr. Nellum, a merchant in Salisbury, was 
powerfully awakened, with many others who came from a 
distance. This part of the world was famous for gambling 
and dancing ; but as the word spread these vices fell $ 
until there was scarcely a frolic heard of in Broad Creek* 
About this place I joined many broken hearted sinners in 
society, many of whom, I trust, became acquainted with 
the power of religion. 

"Saturday, Nov. 7th, on my way to Talbot quarterly 
meeting, I preached at Mr. Parrot's. Two very gay young 
women, who came on a visit to their relations, were wound- 
ed, and I left them crying for mercy. 

"On Sunday, Nov. 8th, our quarterly meeting com- 
menced. 

" Monday 9th, lovefeast began in the morning and it was 
a refreshing time. Many rejoiced in the Lord, and spoke 
freely and feelingly of what God had done for them. After 
the lovefeast I found great freedom to preach from ' The 
Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation/ 
2 Pet. ii, 9, and we had a time not soon to be forgotten, 

" Tuesday, Nov. 10th, I called again at Mr. Parrot's, and 
found those young women dressed very plain, and under 
deep distress. In the evening I read and lectured on the 
16th of John, and the Lord was with us of a truth. The 
power of the Lord was sensibly felt, and his presence filled 
the room, where about fifteen of us were met for prayer, 
Brother Hartley, my brother Richard, (who had come from 
some distance to see me,) and myself, continued in prayer > 
including the time we spent in singing and exhorting, from 
about eight o'clock, till nearly two ; and in that time five 

8* 



82 



LIFE OF THE 



souls were set at liberty : the two young women of whom I 
have spoken, Dr. White and his two sisters, who came from 
a distance to quarterly meeting. This was an extraordinary 
night to my poor heart, and to the souls of most present, 

"Wednesday, Nov. 11th, greatly refreshed, and strength- 
ened, I set out again on my way to Somerset, and found my 
young disciples growing in grace, as well as increasing in 
number. In my way round, having an invitation from Mr 
Nellum, I preached in Salisbury, where the Lord began a 
blessed work ; but enemies were raised up against me, who 
sent the sheriff with a writ to take one to jail. After he served 
it on me, he told me I must be confined. I told him I was 
a servant of the Lord Jesus, and that if he laid a hand 
on me, it would be like touching the apple of his eye. 
He was afraid to injure me : and friends and enemies fol- 
lowed me to the next preaching place. Many assembled 
from all quarters, and I preached from f Behold, ye de- 
spisers, and wonder and perish ; for I work a work in 
your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though 
a man declare it unto you,' Acts xiii, 41. It appeared to 
me as if the place was shaken by the power of the Lord ; 
many of my enemies trembled like a leaf ; I had faith to 
believe they had no power to stop me ; and so it proved, 
for I went on my way rejoicing in God my Saviour. This 
day one soul was set at liberty. 

" I preached at a place called Quantico, and a similar 
work broke out there. The Lord raised a society, and 
many souls were converted ; among others, old sister 
Rider, who was formerly a hearer of Mr. Whitefield, 
was raised up as a pillar in our society; and she be- 
came a mother indeed to the preachers. This society was 
mostly composed of young people, who were as tender as 
Iambs." 

In a note Mr. Garrettson gives the following account of 
the manner in which he was first introduced to the above 
place : 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



83 



<i 1 will briefly narrate the method the Lord took to bring 
me first to Quantico. Old Mr. and Mrs. Rider, who were 
on a visit among their friends, heard me preach, and 
were much affected. After the congregation was dismissed 
they advanced toward me in tears, and the old lady spoke 
as follows,— ' Many years ago we heard Mr. Whitefield 
preach, and we were brought to taste the sweetness of 
religion. Till we heard you, we had not heard a gospel 
sermon for about twenty years. The first time I heard 
you preach, I knew it was the truth, but I only had a 
little spark left. Yesterday we heard you again, and the 
little spark was blown up to a coal ; and glory to God, to 
day the coal is blown up to a flame. We cannot hide our- 
selves any longer from you ; our house and hearts are open 
to receive you, and the blessed word you preach.' The 
dear old people seemed to see, feel, and think alike. I 
went to their house, and it appeared as if there were many 
in that vicinity just ripe for the gospel. O ! there was a. 
sweet gathering to the fold of Jesus. 

" In April, 1779, 1 was led still further into the wilder- 
ness, and though I met with a variety of trials, and was 
severely buffeted of Satan, yet my Lord was with me daily. 
Although in those new places I had none to converse with, 
at first, who knew the Lord, yet Jesus was blessed company 
to me in my retirement. Often the wilderness was my 
closet, where I had many sweet hours in communion with 
God. Whose heart can help rejoicing to think of the 
kind condescension of our blessed Lord to permit them 
to have such heavenly converse with him ! 

" Saturday, April 3d, I preached at a place called the 
Sound, for the first time, near the sea shore, to about two 
hundred people. They had been as sheep without a shep 
herd; but I preached not without hope. There were 
several who are under the appellation of Baptists, in this 
place ; and one of their preachers who spoke after me, 
.cried down baby sprinkling, as he called it, I requested 



84 



LIFE OF THE 



the people to attend the next day at an appointed place, 
and I would preach on the subject. 

" Sunday, April 4th, a number of people assembled, and 
I preached from 1 Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
gospel to every creature. He that belie veth and is bap- 
tized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not, shall be 
damned/ Mark xvi, 15, 16. Very great attention was paid ; 
and as my hearers were principally Presbyterians and 
Churchmen, a vindication of infant baptism was very agree- 
able to them. If it was of no other service, it prepared 
their minds for what was to follow ; for they knew not who 
or what I was. I told them that after a few minutes inter- 
mission I would preach again ; which I did from these 
words, 1 If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the 
ungodly and the sinner appear V 1 Pet. iv, 18. This day 
will not soon be forgotten : the work of the Lord broke 
out. Though I continued more than three hours in the 
two sermons, the people, after I concluded, appeared as if 
nailed to their seats ; for they did not seem as if they 
wished to move from the place ; and weeping was on 
every side. 

" Monday, April 5th, I preached still nearer to the sea ; 
and the same convincing power ran through the audience : 
some of them thought but little of walking ten or twelve 
miles to hear the word. I appointed a day to read and 
explain the rules of our society ; and many came together. 
1 preached with great freedom : then explained the nature 
and design of our society ; and desired such of the weeping 
flock as wished to join, to draw near and open their minds. 
J examined and admitted about thirty ; but being weary, 
I declined taking any more at that time. Weeping and 
mourning were heard among the people. 

° I went to a place some distance off, and preached to 
a gazing company : and while I was speaking, a man 
started from his seat, saying, ' Sir, it is a shame for you to 
go on as you do ; why, do you think you can make us be- 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 



85 



lieve your doctrine is true V I stopped immediately, and 
desired him to point out wherein it was false. I conversed 
with him before the people, until he asked my pardon, 
being sorry he had exposed his ignorance. As he was a 
man of some note, it proved a blessing to the people. 

" I returned to the Sound, and preached two, three, 
and frequently four times in a day. They were so 
hungry for the word, that many would follow me to the 
house where I was to stay, inquiring, ' What they should 
do to be saved ?' The devil in this, as well as other places,, 
had his factors : one man of note set up a reading meet- 
ing in opposition to the society ; but the power of God 
reached his heart, so that he gave it up and joined the 
society. Several hired a clergyman of the Church to come 
and preach against us. He came once, and appointed to 
come again ; but before the time, I met him on the road^ 
and told him I was the man against whom he preached 
in such a place. I asked him if he had ever heard a 
Methodist ? He told me he never had. After explaining 
to him our doctrine, and conversing with him more than 
an hour, he promised that he would never do the like again? 
and confessed that he was led into it by a few individuals , 
and his people could never after persuade him to preach 
against us. 

" In this neighbourhood I have preached to a thousand 
or fifteen hundred souls assembled together under the 
trees ; and many were brought to experience justification 
by faith.* 

* Respecting the people in this place, Mr. Garrettson makes the 
following observations in his notes to this part of his journal, that 
an admirable change soon took place for the better in this region ol 
country. When he first went among them the people, their land 
and houses, with but few exceptions, were poor. What was worst 
of all, they were destitute of even the form of godliness. Manyoi 
them preferred fishing and hunting to cultivating the land. After, 
the gospel came among them, religion spread rapidly, and the people 
became industrious and happy \ left ofFgambling ? tifle4 their land, 



^6 



LIFE OF THE 



" My mind was amazingly exercised, and I believe the 
Lord permitted this affliction for the humiliation of my 
soul. I was frequently afraid, lest after preaching to 
others, I myself should be a castaway ; and many hours 
I have spent in secret, weeping before the Lord. Some- 
times I was tempted to think I did more harm than good , 
and that the people, after a while, would be worse than 
ever : or that they were hypocrites. At other times, the 
cross was so heavy a little before I had to preach, that I 
was constrained, like the prophet, to cry out, * The burden 
of the Lord P But at such particular times I was sure to 
have a happy meeting. 

O ! to grace how great a debtor, 

Daily I'm constrain'd to be : 
Let that grace now like a fetter, 
Bind my wandering soul to thee. 

1 One day I was wandering through the wilderness in 
search of poor lost sheep, and called at several houses : 
but they did not want me. At length night came on ; 
and I had been all day, at least from the morning, with- 
out any refreshment for myself or horse. I finally found 
myself lost in a thick wilderness, called the Cyprus Swamp. 
The night was dark and rainy ; and after wandering about 
for a considerable time, I concluded to take up my lodg- 
ing as well as I could ; for this purpose I stopped my horse ; 
but before I got down, I espied a light, by following which 
I was led to a house, where I was most kindly entertained, 
i sat down, and found my soul very happy and thankful. 
The man of the house fixed his eyes upon me, and at last 
built houses, and attended to their spiritual interests, so that, says 
h£, " after a few years, in retracing my footsteps in this country, I 
found that my younger brethren in the ministry who had succeeded 
me, had been blessed in their labours, and every thing appeared to 
wear a different aspect. Experience had taught many that there 
s nothing like the gospel in its purity to meliorate both the tem- 
poral and spiritual condition of man : and my prayer is that it may 
Ind its way throughout the whole world, to the destruction of idol 
? t r y and infidelity," 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



87 



said, c What are you, or who are you 1 for I am sure I 
never saw such a man as you appear to be.' I told him 
I was a follower of our blessed Saviour ; and asked him if 
he would join me in prayer ; I then read the 7th chapter 
of Matthew, and lectured from it ; and found great sweet* 
ness in prayer. After I withdrew to bed, the wife said to 
the husband, * That is a man of God ; one whom the Lord 
hath sent to reform the world.' When I arose in the 
morning, he asked me to what place I was bound, and 
offered his service and company. I perceived that the 
Lord had reached his heart ; and I now saw for what pur- 
pose the crook was in my lot the day before. I asked the 
woman if she had a love for the Lord ? She said, * Yes." 
I asked if she ever prayed 1 She replied, c I pray always. 
I asked if she knew her sins forgiven ? She said, ( she did 
not ; but she knew that she should go to heaven when she 
died. And,' said she, ' I know that you are a servant of 
God ; but you cannot teach me, for I understand all the 
Scriptures, and I know what kind of death I am to die. ? 
After breakfast we went on our way, and as we rode the 
man asked me what 1 thought of his wife. I told him 
she was a mystery to me. ' Why/ said he, 1 some time ago 
she was taken in a kind of melancholy way, and no one 
knew what was the matter ; for thirteen days she would 
neither eat nor drink, and frequently she would embrace 
the pitcher and kiss it, but would not take a drop, till at 
length she became so weak, that she betook herself to her 
bed ; and the thirteenth day of her fasting, a number of 
people waited around, expecting to see the last of her ; but 
all on a sudden she raised up, and said, " You thought that 
mine was a bodily disorder ; but it was not. Now," said 
she, " I know that my Maker loves me." They gave her 
food and she eat as heartily as ever : and she has been in 
that serious way ever since.' She appeared to be a verv 
solemn woman, and I had a hope that the Lord had takei 
her into his favour. 



88 



LIFE OF THE 



n On my return I called on him again, and conversed more 
fully with the woman, who continued to believe that man 
could not teach her. I suppose the people in this part 
of the country had scarcely ever heard any kind of preach- 
ing, and knew no more about the new birth than the In- 
dians. I met a man one day, and asked him if he was 
acquainted with Jesus Christ. ' Sir/ said he, ' I know not 
where the man lives.' Lest he should have misunderstood 
me, I repeated my question ; and he answered, * I know 
not the man.' 

"Glory to God! I preached in a variety of places 
through this wilderness ; and many were convinced and 
brought to the knowledge of the truth. They built a 
church, and the Lord raised up several able speakers 
among them. There was an amazing change both in the 
disposition and manners of the people. The wilderness 
and solitary places began to bud and blossom as the rose ; 
and many hearts did leap for joy. Hundreds who were 
asleep in the arms of the wicked one awoke, and were 
inquiring the way to Zion with their faces thitherward. 

" As my brethren in rotation began to travel largely 
through this part of the work, I had an opportunity to visit 
the friends in various parts of Maryland ; and found it good 
for me to be among old established Christians. 

" On the 1st of June I returned back to the Sussex 
circuit in Delaware ; and June 6th I preached with great 
freedom at Thomas L.'s in the Fork, from f Friend, how 
comest thou in hither, not having on a wedding garment, 5 
Matt, xxii, 12. I rode six miles and met brother M. We 
held a watch night, and I had much satisfaction in hear- 
ing several of the exhorters, and gave them notes of per- 
* mission to speak. 

" Sunday, June 7th, I spent the morning in retirement^ 
sorely tempted by the devil ; and after I went to my ap- 
pointed place, my mind was so bewildered, I thought 
there was not a text in the Bible that I could speak from. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



89 



I felt myself less than the least. At eleven o'clock there 
was such a number collected, that I was obliged to preach 
under the trees. I had been before the people but a few 
minutes, till the Lord blessed me with great light, and the 
Bible seemed all plain to me." 

In reference to silent meetings, Mr. Garrettson has the 
following very pertinent observations among his manu- 
script notes. 

" It is said, in favour of silent meetings, that Job's friends 
waited in silence seven days, and then they began to speak. 
Why was this silence ? Before Job's affliction he was 
thought to be a very good man. His friends were in 
council to make up an opinion respecting his case. It 
was a received opinion with many in that country and age, 
that the Almighty would not lay so heavy an affliction upon 
a good man. From such an opinion, their decision must 
be, that Job was a bad man, or that his Maker dealt un- 
justly by him : but the judgmenr of the counsellors was, 
that the Almighty was perfect in wisdom and goodness, 
and that Job was a bad man ; and having made up their 
minds on the occasion, they began to load Job with accu- 
sations of base hypocrisy, and to preach to him repentance, 
or banishment from the presence of God. Had they known 
how to reconcile those deep afflictions with the mercy and 
goodness of God, they might have begun their discourse 
when they first approached Job, and not have accepted a 
false vision. 

"I grant, in several instances, the prophets waited in 
silence ; but who cannot see the difference between fore- 
telling future events, and declaring those sacred truths of 
the gospel which have been revealed to every regenerated 
child of God, and especially to his ministers 1 Before a per- 
son professes to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ, he must 
know that he has a commission from him, and the pious 
man with the commission, receives a holy unction, and 
if he is faithful, he will be taught every necessary truth, 

9 



90 



LIFE OP THE 



and certainly he will be taught to be instant in season and 
out of season. I know that the nearer we live to the fount- 
ain head, the more plentifully will the water flow. A 
Christian minister should always have the holy spark with 
him, and certainly he should have the faculties of his soul 
so well regulated, as to know when to speak, and when to 
be silent. I myself one day heard three men speak, after 
brooding over it for nearly an hour, and I verily believe I 
have heard a pious sister in a lovefeast speak more to the 
purpose in fifteen minutes. What would you think of E. 
H., who by some is cried up to be a great man, after pro- 
fessing to have waited a considerable time for the Spirit, 
rising up and declaring that there is no more merit in the 
blood of Jesus Christ, than in the blood of any common ani- 
mal, and inveighing against almost all the duties enjoined 
by the Christian religion 1 I speak thus, because I think it 
a pity that any respectable society of professing Christians 
should be imposed on by such men, and such doctrine. 

" Whenever the Lord begins his work in any place, the 
devil and his children are sure to rise up against it. After 
preaching, I set out for my afternoon's appointment, ac- 
companied by about thirty, whose hearts the Lord had 
touched. I was pursued by a party of men who waylaid 
me, and the head of the company, with a gun presented, 
commanded me to stop. Several of the women who were 
with us surprised me ; they were in an instant off their 
horses, and seizing hold of his gun, held it until I passed 
by. That same man was a penitent some time after, and 
became a member of the society. I went on and preached 

at old Mr. T 's to a large attentive company, and united 

a prosperous society. 

" It appeared as if hundreds in the congregation were 
more or less wrought upon, and many appeared to be 
broken hearted. We could never get a society in this 
place till now. I know the day when the Lord began his 
work in the Fork : I preached from these words, ' And in 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



91 



heil he lifted up his eyes, being in torment ;' and intended, 
if I saw no fruit, to leave them : but blessed be God, he 
visited the place in mercy, and the devil's kingdom is like 
to receive a wonderful shock." 

About this time Mr. Garrettson laboured under peculiar 
and heavy temptations, often repelling them by earnest 
prayer to God, wrestling in holy violence for the victory. 
He continued, however, steadfast in his Master's work, 
preaching successfully to large congregations. Under a 
feeling sense of his inward conflicts, he says, " What is the 
devil afraid of? Why does he chase me in this manner? 
I do not know that I have given way to sin, either inwardly 
or outwardly ; and yet he tells me frequently, ' my com- 
mission is run out, and that my labours never will be bless- 
ed again.' I have had great smugglings in my mind to 
know my standing ; not that I doubt my adoption into the 
family of heaven ; but respecting my salvation from all 
inward sin. From this quarter have arisen my greatest 
fears, for more than twelve months past. I know that my 
Lord has given me power to serve him, and that I love 
him supremely ; but these are comprehensive words, 6 to 
love the Lord with all the heart.' My prayers have been 
frequent, being desirous of a stronger assurance of this 
perfect love which casteth out fear. I have thought some- 
times that I should doubt no more ; but fearfulness has 
again assaulted me. 

"This day I felt strangely : I was so burdened, not with 
guilt, blessed be God ! that I could scarcely bear my own 
weight. None know what I mean, but such as have re- 
ceived a commission to deliver a message for the Lord, 
The prophet knew when he cried out, 4 The burden of 
the Lord ;' Jonah knew something of it when he was called 
to go to Nineveh, and Jeremiah was well acquainted with 
exercises of this kind. It is a sweet thing to preach the 
gospel, but the cross is to be borne. 

a I crossed the river and went to my appointment, which 



LIFE OF THE 



was at J. More's on Broak creek. The people assembled 
from all quarters ; and many came out, some from afar, 
who were enemies to the way. I had scarcely opened 
my mouth when my burden dropped off, and in an uncom- 
mon manner the Holy Scriptures were opened to me, and 
the flame ran from heart to heart. I felt as though I had 
almost faith enough to remove mountains. One thing was 
noticed, not only by my friends, but likewise by those who 
were enemies,— there had been a great drought, so that 
the vegetable creation hung in mourning ; and it was 
thought by many they would lose their crops if it con- 
tinued much longer. In a particular manner I was led to 
pray for rain ; and a few minutes after the congregation 
was dismissed, the face of the sky was covered with black- 
ness, and we had a plentiful shower. This greatly sur- 
prised and convinced the people. I was now happy 
enough to see the prosperity of the young converts. While 
the Lord was plentifully watering the earth, I collected 
the family for prayer ; and we had a great time of refresh- 
ing from the presence of the Lord. My soul was so happy 
while the Lord was uttering his voice in thunder, that it 
seemed as if I saw, by an eye of faith, the blessed Jesus ; 
and the glorified company around him, in exalted strains, 
singing and shouting his praise. And this joy continued 
w ith me till some time in the night ; I then sweetly rested 
in the arms of my Lord. 

"Thursday, June 11th, I preached to a poor people. 
.Some who came from a distance thought I pointed my 
discourse at them. Thursday was a very solemn day of 
fasting. I have noticed that the evil one is more spiteful 
on my fast days than at other times. But I feel there is a 
necessity of keeping my body under, lest after preaching 
to others I should be a castaway. My public labours this 
day, as I was among a curious people, were to reconcile 
some seeming contradictions in Scripture. After I had 
done, I was warmly opposed by an enemy to the cross of 



REV, F. GARRETTSON. 



93 



Christ. I visited one of the spiritual children of Mr. 
Whitefield, on her death bed ; and I trust her soul was 
happy in the Lord. 

" In the evening I met and examined a large society, 
and we had a comfortable time. I had a sweet night's 
rest, and awoke at my usual hour with a happy mind, and 
prayed earnestly to the Lord, to grant that every moment 
of my life might be given to him. 

" I rode to Quantico to visit the young lambs. I ex- 
pected that the Lord intended to do something for them, 
for the devil pursued me all the way even till I got to the 
place. An unexpected congregation assembled in the 
afternoon, and the Lord was with us of a truth. Several 
were set at liberty ; and the cries of the distressed were 
heard — O Jesus, thou art lovely to my soul ! — Thou hast 
overcome me with thy loving kindness. I found great 
freedom in meeting the society, and in the morning I met 
them again, and a precious time we had. 

" Sunday, June 14th, I felt this morning as if the Lord 
iutended to do great things for the people. I spent the 
morning in wrestling with the Lord for a blessing on my la- 
bours. I preached at old brother Rider's at eleven o'clock: 
the old judge who came as a hearer gave great attention, 
and we had a melting time. I rode ten miles to Salisbury; 
when I came in, the man of the house took me into a room, 
and told me I had better leave the town immediately ; for 
a mob was waiting and intended to send me to jail, f They 
came to my house last night/ said he, * expecting to find 
you here ; but when they found you not, they laid hold on 
me, and dragging me down the chamber stairs, hauled me 
along the street till my arms were as black as ink from 
my wrists to my shoulders ; and I know not what would 
have been the consequence, if I had not been rescued by 
a magistrate.' This mob was made up of what they call 
the first people in the county. I told my informer that I 
had come to preach my Master's gospel, and that I was 

9* 



94 



LIFE OF THE 



not afraid to trust him with body and soul. Many came 
out to hear me ; I understood the mob sent one of their 
company to give information of the most convenient time 
to take rile. While I was declaring 1 The Lord knoweth 
how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and reserve the 
unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished/ the heart 
of the spy, who sat close by me, was touched, and tears 
plentifully ran down his face. After service he returned 
to his company, and told them I had preached the truth, 
and if they laid a hand on me he would ptit the law in 
force against them. They withdrew to their homes, with- 
out making the slightest attempt upon me. O, who would 
not confide in so good a God ! After our blessed meeting 
w*s over, I rode three miles arid had a pleasant time with 
a few of my friends. Glory be to God ! he is carrying on 
a gracious work about this place. All this week I spent 
in preaching and visiting the young societies. 

" Sunday, June 21, 1 was to preach at the Sound. In 
the morning I intended meeting the society at eight 
o'clock ; but such a crowd gathered that I declined it ; 
and preached a sermon. At twelve about fifteen hundred 
were assembled under the spreading trees, and the Lord 
made bare his arm. After a short intermission, I preach- 
ed another sermon ; and it seemed as if the whole country* 
would turn to the Lord. While preaching I was so won- 
derfully drawn out, that it appeared to me as though I saw 
our blessed Saviour working prosperously through the 
assembly. Weeping was on every side. I spent a week in 
the neighbourhood, preaching several times a day, besides 
visiting and conversing with the distressed. I believe this 
work was greatly hindered by the Baptists, who came 
among the people, drew off a few, and set others to dis- 
puting about the decrees, and their method of baptizing. 

" Sunday, June 28th, when I came to brother Williams's 
in Muskmelon, I found that a Nicolite preacher had been 
sowing his seed in the young society, and endeavouring to 



REV. F. GARRET TS ON. 



95 



destroy the new-born children. He told them, ' It was a 
sin to wear any kind of clothing that was coloured; and 
that they ought never to pray but when they had an imme- 
diate impulse, and that it was wrong to sing.' Many peo- 
ple came together, but I perceived a considerable alteration ; 
for some would not sing at all, and others sat both in time 
of singing and prayer. Some had taken off the borders of 
their caps, and condemned those who would not do ae 
they had done : in short, some of my own spiritual chil- 
dren would scarcely hear me, because I wore a black coat, 
I gave out my text, ' The kingdom of God is not meat and 
drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy 
Ghost,' Rom. xiv, 17. The Lord made bare his arm and 
humbled me among them ; and there was a shaking, con* 
vincing power. After sermon was ended, I met the society 
and excluded the leader and one or two more ; those that 
remained seemed to grow in grace more than ever. I 
spent the week in Mother Kill, and several other places, 
and was greatly comforted among the growing societies. 

88 Sunday, July 5th, I preached in Dover a little after 
sunrise, then rode four miles and preached at brother B.\s 
at nine, to hundreds who stood and sat under the trees for 
want of room in the house, from 8 Behold a sower went 
forth to sow,' Matt, xiii, 3. I was in my element, and we 
had a great display of the power of the Lord. Many about 
this place are inquiring, ' What shall I do to be saved?' 
I rode on six miles and preached at one o'clock to a list- 
ening multitude, under the trees in Mother Kill. O how 
good the Lord was to my soul ! It was little trouble for me 
to preach, for the Scripture seemed all open. I rode five 
miles and preached again in Muskmelon at brother W.'s, 
and had I think more freedom than at either of the other 
places. At the last sermon there was a Quaker preacher 
present, and after meeting was ended he told a person that 
1 4 spake by the Spirit, if ever man did.' The person said 
it was my fourth sermon that day ; he then altered his 



LIFE OF THE 



mind, and replied, f If that was the case, I was a deceiver, 
for it was nothing but will worship.' This day I stood 
upwards of six hours in the four sermons, and concluded 
about sunset. My spirit was so united to my Jesus, and 
so transported, that I scarcely felt the fatigues of the day: 
and the only sustenance I had taken was a little milk and 
water. I have seldom seen a greater day than this : I do 
not know but I may say thousands are flocking to Jesus. 
There is a childlike fondness in these people, and I feel 
unwilling to leave them ; but the will of the Lord be done. 

" Monday, July 6th, having it on my mind, I set out to 
make an inroad through the Delaware state, where I had 
never been : I had appointed a friend, who had given me 
an invitation to Lewis Town, to meet me at such a time, 
and conduct me through the country : so that numbers had 
knowledge of my intention to pass that way. All along 
the road many were standing at their doors and windows 
gazing, and I could hear some of them say, as I passed, 
; There he is;' e O,' said another, ' he is like another man.' 
I rode about thirty miles and got to my appointment about 
three ; about four o'clock I began, and shortly after I gave 
out the text, J. Wolf, brother to the man at whose house I 
was to preach, came to the door with a gun and a drum, 
and several other utensils, and after beating his old drum 
a while, he took the gun, and was dodging about as though 
he was taking aim to shoot me : this greatly terrified the 
women, so that there was nothing but confusion. I then 
stopped and withdrew to a private room. Soon after, the 
town squire and several other magistrates came, and among 
the rest the Presbyterian minister. The town squire com- 
manded him to depart immediately to his own house, or 
behave himself, otherwise he would send him to jail. We 
now had peace, and I found great freedom to finish my 
sermon. I have no doubt but the Lord began this work. The 
minister told some of the people afterwards that I held out 
nineteen errors. The town squire told me the court house 
was at my service, and I should be welcome to his house. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



97 



M Wednesday, July 8th, my old enemy W — f by nature 
and name, set on by a few others, came into the court 
house while I was preaching, not with a gun and drum, 
but with fire which he put in the chimney, and then began 
to heap on wood, though the day was exceedingly warm : 
finding that this did not disturb me, he brought in a bell^ 
and rung it loudly through the house. I stopped and 
inquired if any would open a large private room. Many 
were offered, and I withdrew and finished my sermon at 
the house of a kind widow woman. In spite of all the 
opposition, the word found the way to the hearts of the 
hearers ; and though severely tempted of the devil, and 
persecuted by many of his servants, my heart was with the 
Lord ; and many were the sweet moments I had in secret. 

"Sunday, July 12th, my appointments were at nine in 
the morning, and three in the afternoon, that I might not 
interfere with the hours of the Church. The court house 
was crowded at nine, and a most pleasant time I had. In 

the morning it rained, so that Mr. did not make his 

appearance, and as tho people were waiting, the squire 
said I had better begin my second sermon. Just as I 
began he arrived, and waited till I was nearly done ; and 
then the bell rung over my head for church, but the peo- 
ple would not move until I concluded, after which we all 
went into church ; but his pulpit and that of Mr. W. rang 
against me, and all such runabout fellows. His having 
the bell rung over my head much offended, not only those 
who were my friends, but many of his also. The more 
they preached and spoke against me, the more earnestly 
did the people search their Bibles to know whether these 
things were so. 

" I had an appointment a few miles from the town by 
the side of a river ; and some declared that if I went there 
they would drown me. I went and found a large con 
course of people, and preached with much freedom, but 
no man assaulted me, I had five miles to my afternoon's 



9S 



LIFE OF THE 



appointment ; and when I had got two miles on my way 
I looked behind and saw a man dressed like a soldier, 
riding full speed, with a great club or stick in his hand- 
I now found it necessary to exercise my faith. When he. 
came up to me he reached out his hand, saying, ' Mr. 
Garrettson, how do you do 1 I heard you preach at such 
a time, and believe your doctrine to be true ; I heard you 
was to be abused at the river to day, and I equipped my- 
self as you see me, and have rode twenty miles in your 
defence, and will go with you if it is a thousand miles, 
and see who dare lay a hand upon you.' Friend, said I, 
the Scripture tells us that vengeance belongs to God, and 
not to man, 6 Very true, sir/ said he, ( but I think I 
should be justifiable in so glorious a cause.' I travelled 
and preached all through the forest, and the Lord enlarged 
my heart, and gave me many precious souls ; for numbers 
were brought^to inquire after religion. 

" Saturday, July 18th, I went to the Fork, accompanied 
by my dear old friends brother and sister White. July 1 9th, 

I preached again in the open air to many hundreds ; and 

found that the work of the Lord was still going on. In 
the afternoon I preached to almost as many at old Mr. 
Turpin's. His daughter Rebecca is a very happy young 
woman. A few months since she was in the height of the 
fashion, but now sees the evil and folly of these things. 

" Monday, July 20th, I went to preach at a house by 
the river, on the edge of Dorset county ; here the Lord 
had greatly weakened Satan's kingdom. I preached at 
the door to abundantly more than could get into the house. 
I was so surprisingly drawn out, and the people so engaged, 
that I could not conclude under two or three hours. From 
the looks of the people, I should not have thought that I 
had an enemy in the congregation. After sermon, being 
much spent I withdrew. Shortly after a person came to 
me and said, f two men wanted to see me.' I told him to 
desire them to walk up, thinking they were persons in dis- 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



OH 



tress, and wanted instruction ; but when I saw them I dis- 
covered wickedness in their very looks. One of them was 
a magistrate, and he was a Churchman ; the other was a 
Presbyterian, and he was a disputant. The magistrate 
brought him out in order to confute me in points of reli- 
gion : and then his intention was to send me to prison. 
I desired them to sit down, and the disputant began ; he 
said but a few words until I asked him if his soul was con- 
verted to God ? I charge you, said I, in the presence of 
him before whom we shall shortly stand, tell me, is your 
soul converted to God 1 Do you know that your peace is 
made with God 1 He was struck, and knew not what to 
say ; but at last he said, * I do not know that I am.' Then, 
replied I, you are in the way to hell : and I began to 
exhort him to repent, and turn to the Lord. I think I 
never before saw a man so confused. He made at- 
tempts to quote Scripture, but could get hold of none. 
The magistrate seeing in what a condition his disputant 
was, in a rage said, 1 Sir, do you know the laws of this 
state ? You have not taken the oath, and you have broken * 
the law by preaching ; you must go to jail.' I bless God, 
said I, that I am not afraid of a jail. They withdrew, and 
after I had eaten dinner I mounted my horse and set out 
to attend my afternoon's appointment ; but a sheriff met 
me a few rods from the house, and commanded me to stop. 
Many of my friends gathered around me, and offered to 
be security for my appearance at court ; but I told them I 
would give no security. I had faith to believe that he had 
not power, or at least would not be permitted to stop me, 
I looked him in the face, and said, I am going on the 
Lord's errand, and if you have power, here I am, take me ; 
but remember that the God against whom you are fighting, 
i who made yonder sun, is just now looking down upon you ; 
I and I know not but that he will crush you to the earth, if you 
persist in fighting so furiously against him. I am now on 
my way to Philadelphia, to preach the glorious gospel of 



iOO 



LIFE OF THE 



my Redeemer ; and the consequence of your stopping m 
in this manner will be rueful. After conversing with hi 
a few minutes, I perceived his countenance fall, and h 
said, ' It is a pity to stop you ;' and so turned his back 
upon me. I went rejoicing on my way, accompanied by 
many of my kind friends, some of whom were weary and 
heavy laden ; and had an opportunity in the afternoon 
inculcate precious truths on as many people as could crowd 
into a large house standing by the river side. 

" After attending several quarterly meetings, where we 
had a very large number of people, and great displays of 
the power of convincing and converting grace, I pursued 
my journey to Philadelphia, accompanied by several of my 
friends from that city. In my way I preached at Mr. Sad- 
ler's in Queen Anne's : and after preaching, to get clear of a 
mob which they expected would surround the house, (for 
there were many violent opposers in this part of the county,) 
I rode, accompanied by a tender friend, the best part of 
the night, and got into another county. The next day my 
friends met me : we then went on together and arrived 
safely in Philadelphia." 



CHAPTER VI. 

Leaves the Peninsula, and at the request of Mr. Asbury goes 
Philadelphia — Society there in a depressed state — British army ha 
j ust left the city — Citizens returned to their employments— Succe 
in New Jersey — Conversion of an old man — Remarkable accou 
of a young woman. 

Mr. Garrettson had laboured in the Peninsula in th 
manner related in the preceding chapter about fiftee 
months. During this time several new circuits had bee 
formed, and the work of God had prospered in his hands 
>o much so that the number returned in the societies i 



REV. F. GAttRETTSON. 



101 



Delaware and Kent county, was 1288 in the year 1779. 
When the many difficulties they had to contend with, in 
consequence of the war which was now raging with in- 
creased violence, are considered, we can but admire the 
good hand of God that was with them in the awakening 
and conversion of so many souls. Notwithstanding these 
obstacles, Mr. Garrettson was enabled to prosecute his 
labours in the gospel with increased vigour and persever- 
ance, and with great success ; so that at the time we are 
now speaking of, there were no less than forty nine preach- 
ers and 8577 members in the societies. Mr. Asbury was 
still confined, principally at Judge White's, so that the 
chief management of the affairs fell upon Mr. Garrettson, 
so far as active labour was concerned. It is true he cor- 
responded with Mr. Asbury, and acted according to his 
advice and under his direction. It is not to be wondered 
at that " all manner of evil" should be said of a man who 
was thus instrumental in the hand of God in giving such 
a shock to Satan's kingdom. 

Having given such evident proofs of his designation to 
the work of the Christian ministry by the supreme Head 
of the church, and of his skilfulness in conducting the 
spiritual interests of the societies, Mr. Asbury requested 
him to leave his present field of labour, and pay a visit to 
the city of Philadelphia, the society in this place being in 
a very depressed state. 

The British army had been for a considerable time 
quartered in this city, and at this time had just taken their 
departure. The confusion occasioned by this state of 
things, tended very much to obstruct the work of God. 
Previously to the entrance of the British into the city, many 
of the inhabitants had fled into the country, and it was 
some time even after they had departed, before the citi- 
zens returned and arranged their affairs, so as to feel them- 
selves in a settled state. " I stayed," says Mr. Garrettson, 
about two months in Philadelphia, and though I did not 
10 



102 



LIFE OF THE 



see much fruit of my labour, I found many of my dear 
friends near and precious to me." 

Being relieved in the city by Mr. Cox, he took a tour 
into several parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 
" preaching," he says, " from ten to twelve sermons a 
week. I bless God for the prosperous journey he gave me 
through the state of New Jersey : several were awakened , 
and some brought to know the Lord Jesus. 

" One day after preaching, an old man came to me and 
said, all in tears, ' This day I am a hundred and one 
years old, and this is my spiritual birth day.' The dear 
man's soul was so exceedingly happy, that he appeared to 
be ready to take his flight to heaven. 

" I preached at a new place, where the congregation 
consisted mostly of young people, from ' The Son of man 
come to seek and to save that which was lost,' Luke xix, 10. 
We had a wonderful display of the power of the Lord. 
After I had finished my discourse, the young people hung 
around each other crying for mercy. Many, no doubt, 
will praise the Lord eternally for that day. A remarkable 
circumstance happened respecting a young woman who 
was brought up in the Quaker persuasion. It pleased the 
Lord to awaken her when very young. She experienced 
the pardoning love of God, and continued to enjoy it for 
some time. By degrees, however, she got off her watch, 
having none to strengthen but many to draw her away. 
She at length fell from God, and became as wild and 
trifling as ever. Soon after this she was entirely deprived 
of her speech ; the enemy of her soul persuaded her to 
believe that it was a sin for her to do any kind of work, or 
even to dress herself ; and if they gave her a book to read 
she thought it sinful to turn over a leaf, and would read no 
more unless some one would perform this office for her. 
It was impressed on her mind that there was a people in 
a particular place who served the Lord ; and if she cduld 
get among them, they would be a means of restoring her to 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



103 



her speech. She had never heard of a Methodist; and 
the place which was revealed to her was nearly twenty 
miles from her residence, where there was a young, loving 
society. Though she knew nothing of the way, she sat 
off to find that place and people. Her family missing her, 
pursued and brought her back. Not long after she made 
a more successful attempt, and found the society. The 

I Lord revealed her case to them. There was a preacher 
present, Mr. Daniel Raff, who consented to call a meeting, 
and they cried to the Lord in her behalf that day and the 
next. She then went into a private room, kneeled down to 
prayer, and continued there till the Lord blessed her soul. 
At- the same time her tongue was loosened, and she could 
speak forth the praises of Israel's God. She had been 

i dumb about two years. Some time after I came into this 
neighbourhood and sent word to her mother that I would 

i preach such a day at her house. When the day arrived, 

; I took the young woman home, accompanied by many 
friends, and we were received like angels : some thought 

I the Methodists could work miracles. Many of the friends 
and neighbours came, and could not but observe how 
angelic this young woman appeared, She was now able 
to speak and work as well as usual. I bless the Lord who 
gave me great freedom in preaching on this remarkable 

; occasion. The people seemed to believe every word which 
was delivered. The old lady was ready to take us in her 
arms, being so happy, and so well satisfied with respect 
to her daughter." 



104 



LIFE OF THE 



CHAPTER VII. 

Returns to the Peninsula— Introduction of Methodism into Dor- 
set county — Peculiar exercises, and happy deliverance — Escapes 
an attempt to take his life — Taken by a mob — Imprisonment of J 
Hartley — Maltreated and imprisoned — Happy in his own soul — Is 
set at liberty — Strange visions of the night. 

Having completed his mission in this part of the country, 
in the autumn of the same year he made his second visit 
to the Peninsula, the place where the Lord of the harvest 
had given to him so many souls. Here he travelled exten- 
sively through the winter, preaching with his usual dili- 
gence and success. 

The following account of the commencement and pro- 
gress of the work of God in Dorset county, where the citi- 
zens were principally members of the Church of England, 
is taken from his printed journal and his manuscript notes. 
It began by means of a young lady who was niece to Judge 
E., of Dorset county, and sister to the wife of the honour- 
able Mr. Basset. Being on a visit, she fell in company 
with the Methodists, by whose means she was awakened 
to a sense of her lost and guilty state, and finally converted 
to God, and so became a pious follower of the blessed 
Jesus. When she returned to her uncle's in Dorset, they 
thought she was beside herself. She, however, persever- 
ing in her Christian course, became instrumental in the 
conversion of her sister Mary, and a few others. Her sis- 
ter became as zealous for God as herself ; and soon after 
another sister, Mrs. Basset, became a most blessed woman, I 
S{ I have no doubt," says Mr. Garrettson, " but that she 
lived and died a bright witness of sanctification." 

The honourable Mr. Basset was an eminent lawyer in 
the state of Delaware. After he embraced religion, he 
became a member of congress, was afterwards appointed 
one of the United States' judges ; and finally, a governor 



REV. F. GARRETTSON* 



105 



of the state of Delaware. The substance of what follows 
Mr. Garrettson says he had from Mr. Basset's own mouth. 
At the time of the conversion of his lady and her sisters, 
who all three were eminently pious, Mr. Basset being a 
man of the world, and moving in the higher circles of fash- 
ionable society, became greatly distressed in mind on ac- 
count of the Methodists, so that he had but little rest day 
or night. A court being soon to be held in Lewiston, in 
which he had a cause to manage as counsel, he concluded 
that when that should be completed, he would sell his pro- 
perty, and move to some distant part of the country, so as 
to rid himself of the " noisy Methodists." One night dur- 
ing the session of the court, he went to his bed chamber 
to rest. After falling into a profound sleep, he dreamed 
that he saw two devils in black standing by his bed side, 
who, he thought, had come to take him away. He trem- 
bled, and began to pray. The devils thereupon soon van- 
ished ; and were succeeded by two beautiful angels dressed 
in white, standing near his bed. These, thought he, are 
messengers for good. Casting his eye towards the farthest 
corner of the room, he saw an aged, and very grave look- 
ing man, sitting in a large arm chair, frowning upon him, 
the angels still standing by his bed. He looked, and be- 
held a beautiful child advance to the aged man, and smil- 
ing pleasantly, began to fondle around him ; but the aged 
man continued to frown. On this his sins were brought 
to his recollection, and it appeared to him that God the 
Father, represented by the aged man, was frowning on 
him, while Jesus Christ, represented by the little child, 
was interceding for him. The angels might justly repre- 
sent the Holy Spirit directing the ministers of Christ, or 
his holy sisters presenting his case in prayer to a throne 
of grace. 

He awoke in a sort of rapture,' and immediately dedi- 
cated himself to the God who made him, and became a 
happy Christian. "From what I understood /' says Mr a 

10* 



106 



LIFE OF THE 



Garrettson, (i Mrs. Basset had been praying for her hus- 
band's conversion, and that very night she dreamed that 
God had converted his soul." 

On returning home from court he met his family, and 
especially his pious lady joyfully. When he related to her 
What the Lord had done for him ; " I know it," said she r 
*'the blessed God told me so." So far from indulging in 
a desire to move away from the Methodists, they now be- 
came the people of his choice. " I knew him," says Mr. 
Garrettson, " many years after this, and he lived I believe 
like a Christian, and I doubt not died like one and is gone 
to glory. Mrs. Basset lived but a short time after she 
embraced religion. I was often at the house, and was with 
her in her last sickness, when she seemed filled with the 
perfect love of God. I felt as if the room was filled with 
ministering spirits ; and she left the world praising God." 

Equally remarkable was the conversion of Henry Arey, 
Esq., who was a relation to Mary, the young lady above- 
mentioned. " As he was a man of fashion, and an entire 
stranger to inward religion, he was much afraid she would 
drive his wife out of her senses. He undertook to show 
his visiter that the Methodists were not in the right way ; 
and for this purpose he chose an old book written by a 
Puritan divine, a hundred and fifty years ago : but he had 
not read many minutes before conviction seized him, and 
the tears flowed from his eyes. He withdrew and read till 
he thought he must go among the Methodists with his 
book, and compare it with theirs. He did so, and found 
the Methodist publications to agree in substance with that. 
On this occasion I first met with him at Mr. White's. After 
lie had laboured some time under distress of soul the Lord 
gave him rest — he felt the burden of guilt removed — and 
now expressed an anxious desire that I should come to the 
county where he resided, being determined to stand by the 
cause as long as he lived. 

" Thursday, Feb. 10, 1780 ; I arose very early in the 



REV. F. GARRETTSOtf. 



107 



morning, and addressed the throne of grace. The Lord 
wonderfully refreshed my soul, and I felt a willingness 
to suffer whatever he might permit to come upon me 
for the sake of his cause. I opened my mind to Mr. As- 
bury who was at Mr. W.'s, and he seemed very desirous I 
should accept the invitation. He then commended me to 
the Lord in prayer, and I set out in good spirits with a 
strong hope that good would be done. The first day I 
got half way, and had a comfortable night. February 1 1th 
was a day of deep exercise. Are others distressed in the 
way that I have been ? I travelled on seemingly with the 
weight of a mill stone. I Wept bitterly as I passed along, 
and several times stopped my horse intending to turn back, 
but was still induced to pursue my way. I got to my dear 
friend Mr. Arey's some time before night ; and the burden 
which I felt all the way left me at his door. The dismis- 
sion of it was perceptible, for my spirit did rejoice in God 
my Saviour. I was conducted into a private room, where 
the Lord let me know that I was in the very place in 
which he would have me. 

" In the evening the family were gathered together for 
prayer : I shall never forget the time : I suppose about 
twelve white and black were present. The power of the 
Lord came among us : Mrs. Arey was so filled with the 
new wine of Christ's kingdom, that she sunk to the floor, 
blessing and praising the Lord. And many of the blacks 
were much wrought upon. This night was a time of 
great refreshment to me." 

The three following days Mr. Garrettson preached in 
the neighbourhood to numerous and attentive congrega- 
tions, most of whom were greatly affected under the word, 
and a gracious work commenced among the people. Pro- 
ceeding to another part of the country, he observes, " One 
man was deeply affected only by seeing us. I preached 
at Colonel Vicery's, a clever man, who afterwards became 
a great friend to us, and to himself too. The fields are 



IOS 



LIFE OF THE 



white for harvest, but the wicked rage, and invent lies 
and rnischief. The county court was sitting; and some 
of the heads of it were determined by some means to clear 
the place of such a troublesome fellow. For a pretence 
they charged me with toryism ; and I was informed, gave 
a very wicked man liberty, and promised to protect him 
in taking my life. For this purpose he was to lie in wait 
for me the next day. It providentially reached my ears 
that night before I went to bed, and as the wicked seemed 
thus inclined, I thought it expedient to withdraw to Mr. 
Arey's, where I remained two days ; but being pressed in 
spirit, I could stay no longer, so I went to another part of 
the county. Many came out to hear, and the word was 
still attended with power to some hearts. 

Saturday 25th, my spirit was solemn and I could not 
but expect that something uncommon would transpire. I 
withdrew to the woods, and spent much time before the 
Lord. I preached with freedom to a weeping flock, my 
friend Arey, who was a magistrate, and a man of note in 
the county, accompanying me to the place. In the even- 
ing we were repairing to his house, being about to preach 
there the next day ; when a company of men, who had em- 
bodied themselves, waylaid me, with an intention to take 
me to jail. About sun set they surrounded us, and called 
me their prisoner. They beat my horse, cursed and swore, 
but did not strike me. Some time after night they took 
me to a magistrate who was as much my enemy as any of 
them. When I was judged, and condemned for preach- 
ing the gospel, the keeper of the peace who sat in his great 
chair, immediately wrote a mittimus and ordered me to 
jail. I asked him if he had never heard of an affair in 
Talbot county. Brother I. Hartley* was committed to jail 

* Mr. Garrettson adds the following particulars in a note : — 
L - Brother Hartley, a dear good man, and an excellent preacher, 
was so pressed in spirit, he could no longer contain, and the rulers 
laid hands on him, and confined him in Talbot jail ; but he preached 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



109 



for the same crime, that of preaching the gospel ; soon after 
the magistrate was taken sick unto death, and sent for this 
same preacher out of confinement to pray for him. He 
then made this confession, ' When I sent you to jail,' said 
he, 4 1 was fighting against God, and now I am about to 
Jeave the world, pray for me.' His family were called in, 
and he said to his wife, ' This is a servant of God ; and 
when I die, I request he may preach at my funeral. You 
need not think I have not my senses ; this is the true faith.' 
He then gave brother Hartley charge of his family, and 
desired them to embrace that profession. Now, said I, I 
beseech you to think seriously of what you have done, and 
prepare to meet God. Be you assured, I am not ashamed 
of the cross of Christ, for I consider it an honour to be 
imprisoned for the gospel of my Lord. My horse was 
brought, and about twelve of the company were to attend 
me to jail. They surrounded me, and two, one on each 
side, held my horse's bridle. The night was very dark ; 
and before we got a mile from the house, on a sudden there 
was a very uncommon flash of lightning, and in less than 
a minute all my foes were dispersed : my friend Arey was 
a little before the company, so that I was left alone. I 
was reminded of that place of Scripture, where our Lord's 
enemies fell to the ground, and then this portion of Scrip- 
ture came to me, 1 Stand still and see the salvation of God/ 
It was a very dark cloudy night, and had rained a little, 
I sat on my horse alone, and though I called several times 
there was no answer. I went on, but had not got far 
before I met my friend Mr. Arey returning to look for me. 
He had accompanied me throughout the whole of this 

powerfully through the window. The blessed God owned his word, 
and he was instrumental in raising a large society. He was con- 
fined a long time, till finally they thought he might as well preach 
without as within jail. Shortly after be was set at liberty, he married 
a pious young lady, and located. He did not live many years, but 
while he did live, he was very useful, and adorned his Christian and 
ministerial character. He died in the Lord, and went to glory," 



i 10 



LIFE OF THE 



affair. We rode on talking of the goodness of God till we 
came to a little cottage by the road side, where we found 
two of my guards almost frightened out of their wits. I told 
them if I was to go to jail that night, we ought to be on 
our way, for it was getting late. * O ! no,' said one of 
them, Met us stay until the morning.' My friend and I 
rode on, and it was not long ere we had a beautiful clear 
night. We had not rode far before the company collected 
again, from whence I know not. However, they appeared 
to be amazingly intimidated, and the leader of the company 
rode by the side of me, and said, * Sir, do you think the 
affair happened on our account?' I told him that I would 
have him to judge for himself ; reminding him of the awful- 
ness of the day of judgment, and the necessity there was 
of preparing to meet the Judge of the whole earth. One 
of the company sw T ore an oath, and another immediately 
reproved him, saying, 8 How can you swear at such a time 
as this?' At length the company stopped, and one said, 
4 We had better give him up for the present ;' so they 
turned their horses and went back. My friend and I pur- 
sued our way True it is, ' The wicked are like the trou- 
bled sea, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.' We had 
not gone far before they pursued us again, and said, ' We 
cannot give him up.' They accompanied us a few minutes, 
again left us, and we saw no more of them that night. A 
little before midnight we arrived safe to my friend's house. 
Blessed be God, the dear waiting family were looking out, 
and received us with joy: and we had a precious sweet 
4 family meeting. I retired to my room as humble as a 
little child, praising my great deliverer. 

" During the remainder of the night, though asleep, I 
w T as transported with the visions which passed through my 
mind. I had a confidence in the morning that my beloved 
Lord would support me. I saw in the visions of the night 
many sharp and terrible weapons formed against me; but 
none could penetrate or hurt me : for as soon as they came 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



Hi 



near me they were turned into feathers, and brushed by 
me as soft as down. 

" Sunday 27th, at eleven o'clock many came out to hear 
the word, and it was expected my enemies would be upon 
me. I was informed that not a few brought short clubs 
under their coats to defend me in case of an attack, for 
many had just about religion enough to fight for it. As I 
was giving out the hymn, standing between the hall and 
room doors, about twenty of my persecutors came up in a 
body. I was amazed to see one of them who was an old 
man and his head as white as a sheet. The ringleader 
rushed forward, presented a pistol, and laid hold of me. 
Blessed be God ! my confidence was so strong in him, that 
I feared none of these things. Some of the audience, who 
stood next to me, gave me a sudden jerk ; I was presently 
in the room, and the door shut. As soon as I could I 
opened it, and beckoning to my friends, desired that they 
would not injure my enemies ; that I did not want to keep 
from them, but was willing to go to jail. If I had not spoken 

, in this manner, I believe much blood would have been 
shed. I began to exhort, and almost the whole congrega- 
tion were in tears. The women in a particular manner 
were amazingly agitated. I desired my horse to be got. 
and I was accompanied to Cambridge, where I was kept 
in a tavern from twelve o'clock, till near sunset, surround- 

; ed by the wicked : and it was a great mercy of God that 
my life was preserved. 

H I told my enemies not to give themselves any uneasi- 
ness, for I thought it an honour to suffer in the cause.of 
Christ. After my horse and baggage were ready, and I 
was equipped for the expedition, we started, two and two. 

; My friend and I rode together, and half the company be- 

j fore, and half behind. This was on the Lord's day. When 
we came to the hotel, my friend and I were permitted to 
occupy a room adjoining the large public room. The 
inhabitants of the place seemed to be coming and going 



112 



LIFE OP THE 



the whole of the day, and kept the room filled the whole 
of the time, drinking and rejoicing over their prey. My 
friend was a young soldier, and the trial was too great for 
him. One of the company, a stout man, was about to 
break in to abuse, (for their hatred against him was almost 
as great as it was against me,) and actually did strike at 
him with all his force with a large loaded whip, and in all 
probability would have killed him, had not the whip struck 
the top of the door. My friend was young and active, and 
he instantly sprung, and as quick as a flash, sent his fist 
into the fellow's temple, who like a Goliah under David's 
sling, fell flat to the floor, and there was a roar of laughter 
through the house, and a declaration, ■ the Methodists will 
light.' At a convenient time I got my friend round the 
neck, and wept and told him he had grieved my spirit. 
He said he was sorry on account of grieving me ; but that 
it was almost as sudden as thought : that it appeared to 
him that his arm was nerved for the purpose, and that he 
did not feel as if he had done wrong. And I must say I 
think they behaved rather better afterwards. 

" A little before night I was thrust into prison, and my 
enemies took away the key that none might administer to 
my necessities. I had a dirty floor for my bed, my saddle 
bags for my pillow, and two large windows open with a 
cold east wind blowing upon me : but I had great conso- 
lation in my Lord, and could say, 4 Thy will be done.' 
During my confinement here, I was much drawn out in 
prayer, reading, writing, and meditation. I believe I had 
the prayers of my good friend Mr. Asbury ; and the book 
which he sent me, Mr. Rutherford's Letters, during his 
confinement, together with the soul comforting and 
strengthening letters which I received from my pious 
friends, were rendered a great blessing to me. The Lord 
was remarkably good to me, so that I experienced a prison 
to be like a paradise ; and I had a heart to pray for my 
worst enemies. My soul was so exceedingly happy, I 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



113 



scarcely knew how my days and nights passed away. The 
Bible was never sweeter to me. I never had a greater 
love to God's dear children. I never saw myself more 
unworthy. I never saw a greater beauty in the cross of 
Christ ; for I thought I could, if required, go cheerfully to 
the stake in so good a cause. I was not at all surprised 
with the cheerfulness of the ancient martyrs, who were 
$ble in the flames to clap their glad hands. Sweet mo- 
ments I had with my dear friends who came to the prison 
window. 

Happy the man who finds the grace. 

The blessing of God's chosen race r 

The wisdom coming from abov^, 

The faith which sweetly works by love. ' 

*' Many, both acquaintances and strangers, came to visit 
me from far and near, and 1 really believe I never was the 
means of doing more good for the time : for the county 
seemed to be much alarmed, and the Methodists among 
whom I had laboured, to whom I had written many epis- 
tles, were much stirred up to pray for me. I shall never 
forget the kindness I received from dear brother and sis- 
ter Arey. They suffered much for the cause of God in 
Dorset county, for which, if faithful, they will be amply 
compensated in a better world. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Arey were remarkably kind, and sent 
me every thing which was necessary. My brother Thomas^ 
who lived about a hundred miles off, heard of my impri- 
sonment, and came to see me, and brought a letter from 
Judge White to Mr. Harrison, a gentleman of note, who 
was the greatest enemy I had in town- After reading the 
letter, he not only invited my brother to put up at his house^ 
but went and got the prison key, let my brother come in, 
and next morning he came to the jail and invited him out 
to breakfast, and told me he would do any thing he could 
for me. Before this he was as bitter as gall. One day 
when an old Quaker friend came to see me 5 he came ant! 

11 



LIFE QF THE 



abused him, and strove to drive him away : the Quaker 
made him ashamed of his conduct. My enemies sent a spy, 
who feigned himself a penitent, and as I was coming down 
stairs to converse with him through the window, it came 
powerfully to my mind, he is an enemy sent if possible to 
draw something out of you concerning the war. He cried , 
and said he was a miserable sinner, that he was afraid he 
would go to hell, and wanted to know what he should do to 
be saved. I told him to leave off swearing and drunken- 
ness, and return, and I would give him further directions. 
I afterwards found he was the very character I had sup- 
posed. 

" My crime of preaching the gospel was so great, that 
no common court would try my cause. There appeared 
to be a probability of my staying in jail till a general court, 
which would not convene in nearly twelve months. My 
good friend Mr. Asbury went to the governor of Maryland, 
and he befriended me : had I been his brother, he could 
not have done more for me. The manner in which he 
proceeded to relieve me was this :— I was an inhabitant of 
Maryland by birth and property : I could likewise claim a 
right in the Delaware state, which state was more favour- 
able to such pestilent fellm^s. I was carried before the 
governor of Delaware. This gentleman was a friend to 
our society. He met me at the door, and welcomed me in, 
assuring me he would do any thing he could to help me. A 
recommendatory letter was immediately despatched to the 
governor of Maryland ; and I was entirely at liberty. O ! 
how wonderfully did the people of Dorset rage : but the 
word of the Lord spread all through that county, and hun- 
dreds both white and black have experienced the love of 
Jesus, Since that time T have preached to more than three 
thousand people in one congregation, not far from the 
place where I was imprisoned ; and many of my worst 
enemies have bowed to the sceptre of our sovereign Lord, 
The labours of Caleb Peddicord and Thomas S. Chew 



REV. F, GARRETTSON. 



115 



were much blessed in this place, in the first reviving and 
spreading of the work. 

" After I left my confinement, I was more than eve* 
determined to be for God and hone else. I travelled ex- 
tensively. The Lord was with me daily, and my spirit 
rejoiced in God my Saviour. In visitisg the yotihg soci- 
eties, after I left jail, we had blessed hours : for many 
came to hear, sinners cried for mercy, and God's dear 
people rejoiced. 

" Friday 24, was a solemn fast, being good Friday, the 
day on which the great Redeemer gave up his precious 
life. Three days after, being in a blessed family, I had 
great sweetness both in public and private ; and before I 
' laid down to rest, I was very desirous of being lost and 
j swallowed up in the love of the Redeemer > and of feeling 
i the witness of perfect love. After I laid down to rest, I 
was in a kind of visionary way for several hours. About 
one I awoke very happy, arose from my bed, and addressed 
the throne of grace. I then lighted a candle and spent 
nearly two hours in writing the exercises of the night. I saw 
myself travelling through a dismal place, encompassed with 
many dangers ; I saw the devil, who appeared very furious ; 
he came near to me and declared with bitterness that he 
would cause my death ; for he seemed to suggest, you have 
done my kingdom much harm: thus saying, he began 
pelting me with stones, and bedaubing me with dirt, till I 
felt wounded almost to death, and began to fear I should 
fall by the hand of my enemy. But in the height of my 
distress, my adored Saviour appeared to me, whom I 
thought the most beautiful person that ever my eyes beheld, 
* I am your friend,' said he, ' and will support you in your 
journey ; fear not, for your enemy is chained.' I seemed 
| to receive much strength, and the power of my enemy was 

Iso broken that he could not move one foot after me ; all he 
could do was to threaten, which he did loudly till I got 
out of his hearing* Being safe from these difficulties, I 



116 



LIFE OF THE 



looked forward and saw a very high hill which I was tt< 
ascend, but feared that I never should be able to reach the 
top : I entered on my journey, and got about halfway up, 
so fatigued that I thought every moment I must sink to 
the earth. I then laid down to rest myself a little, and 
seemed to fall into a kind of doze ; but I had not lain long 
before the person who met me in the valley passed by, and 
smote me on the side, saying, ' Rise up, and be goings 
there is no rest for you there.' With that I received 
strength, and arrived at the top of the hill. I then looked 
back and saw my enemy at a great distance. I was 
greatly surprised when I saw the place through which I 
had passed ; for on every hand there appeared to be pits> 
holes, and quagmires in abundance. I was much wounded^ 
and all bespattered with dirt. I looked around to see if I 
could find any house : and at a distance I espied a little 
cottage, and made up to it : when I got near the door, two 
angels met me and said, ' Come in, come in, thou blessed 
of the Lord, here is entertainment for weary travellers. 5 
The interior of the cottage appeared to be the most beau- 
tiful place I had ever seen. After I went in I thought it 
was heaven filled with blessed saints and angels. One and 
another broke out, ' Glory, glory,' &c, &c, till the place 
was filled with praises. One spoke to me and said, 1 This 
is not heaven, as you suppose, neither are we angels, but 
sanctified Christians : and this is the second rest. And 
it is your privilege, and the privilege of all the children of 
God.' With that I thought I had faith to believe, and in 
a moment my spotted garments were gone, a white robe 
was given me, and I had the language and appearance of 
one of this blessed society : I then awoke. 

" Before this, I had an ardent desire truly to know my 
state, and to sink deep into God. When I awoke I seemed 
all taken up with divine things. I spent part of the remain- 
der of the night in writing, prayer, and praises : and had 
a strong witness of union with my blessed Lord. My bro- 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



11? 



iher T. from the western shore came to see me, travelled 
several weeks with mfc> with whom I had blessed times ; 
for I believe it was on this visit he felt a witness of par- 
doning love to his soul. 

" Upon a certain occasion, I was wonderfully led to 
think of the place called hell, and was severely buffeted 
by the devil. ' Hell/ he suggested, * is not as bad a place 
as you represent : how can God be a merciful being, as 
you set him forth, if he sends people to such a dismal 
place to be tormented for ever for a few sins V 1 was ear- 
nestly desirous to know what kind of place it was ; and 
the Lord condescended to satisfy me in the dead season 
of the night. After I fell into a deep sleep, I seemed to 
enter through a narrow gate into eternity, and was met by 
a person who conducted me to the place called hell ; but 
I had a very imperfect view of it. I requested to be taken 
where I could see it better, if that could be done. I was 
then conveyed to a spot where I had a full view of it. It 
appeared as large as the sea, and I saw myriads of damned 
souls in every posture that miserable beings could get into. 
This sight exceeded any thing of the kind that ever had 
entered into my mind. But it was not for me to know 
any of them. Were I to attempt to describe the place as 
it was represented to me, I could not do it. Had I the 
pen of a ready writer, and angelic wisdom, I should fall 
short. I cried out to my guide, It is enough. With that 
he brought me to the place where he first met me. I then 
desired a discovery of heaven : my guide said, ' Not now. 
return : you have seen sufficient for once ; and be more 
faithful in warning sinners, and have no more doubts abom 
the reality of hell.' Then I instantly awoke/' 

11* 



116 



LIFE OF THE 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Disputes respecting the ordinances — Mistakes corrected — Breach 
healed, and harmony restored — Mr. Asbury's account of this affair 
—Goes to Baltimore — Thence to the Peninsula — Singular dream. 

The Methodists in this country, as well as in Europe, 
were considered at this time only as a society. The preach- 
ers were not ordained, and therefore did not claim the right 
of administering the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's 
supper, nor of performing the rites of marriage and burial 
of the dead. These circumstances became the source of 
considerable uneasiness in the societies. Not having fel- 
lowship with many of the parochial clergy of the Church of 
England on account of the irregularity of their lives, and 
the want of evangelical doctrine in their sermons, the 
Methodists were unwilling to receive the ordinances of 
Christ at their hands. 

In addition to this, many places, particularly at the 
south, were entirely destitute of a settled ministry of any 
denomination. To remedy the inconveniences arising 
from this state of things, some of the preachers, no doubt 
from the best of motives, for they appear to have been a 
company of holy men, seconded the views of the people 
in respect to having the ordinances among themselves, 
Mr. Asbury, however, and most of the northern preachers 
resisted these measures, and endeavoured to persuade them 
to remain as they were until they could advise with Mr. 
Wesley and receive his directions. 

In the opinion of Mr. Garrettson, who was present when 
the question respecting administering the ordinances was 
discussed, those brethren in Virginia who advocated the 
measure have been misrepresented, as though they were 
at the head of a schism. In his manuscript notes, Mr 
Garrettson says, " Since the death of Mr. Asbury, I am 
the oldest preacher in the American connexion, and there- 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



119 



tore I think it my duty to explain this business." He 
then goes on to state, that at the Deer-creek conference, 
which was held May 20th, 1777, Mr. Rankin in the chair, 
it was asked, " Shall the preachers in America administer 
the ordinances?" The answer was, " We will suspend 
them until the next conference." 

May 19th, 1778, the regular conference was held in 
Leesburg, Virginia. Mr. Rankin and his British brethren, 
except Mr. Asbury who was not present at this confer- 
ence, were gone home. Mr. William Watters, being the 
oldest American preacher, was called to the chair. The 
same question was proposed again, " Shall we administer 
the ordinances?" " I was present," says Mr. Garrettson l 
; " and the answer was ' lay it over until the next confer- 
ence, 1 which was appointed to be held in Fluvanna county r 
i Va., May 18th, 1779, at what was called the broken back 
church." In consequence of the troubles arising from 
the state of the war, which then raged with increased vio- 
lence, the northern brethren did not attend the Fluvanna 
conference; but for their " convenience," says Mr. Gar- 
rettson, " called a little conference in Kent county, in the 
province of Delaware, April 28th, 1779, at Judge White's, 
where Mr. Asbury had been confined to avoid the rage of 
i; his enemies. At this conference Mr. Asbury was present 
and presided. 5 ' 

At the time appointed, the southern brethren met in 
the regular conference, and the same question respecting 
administering the ordinances was discussed, and was 
finally decided in the affirmative. They accordingly set 
apart several of the oldest preachers to travel extensively, 
. and to administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's 
* . supper, and to perform the marriage ceremony ; and at the 
I conclusion, appointed their next conference to be held in 
May, 1780, at Manicantown, Virginia. " We at the 
north," says Mr. Garrettson, " were opposed to this inno- 
vation, and it was our pleasure to meet in Baltimore, April 



120 



LIFE OF THE 



24th, 1780, and brother Asbury, William Watters and 
myself were appointed a committee to meet those brethren 
at their conference, and endeavour to effect a reconcilia- 
tion. After much prayer and consultation, they unani- 
mously agreed to a suspension of the ordinances for one 
year, and to call a general conference in Baltimore the 
next spring ; in the meantime to consult Mr. Wesley, by 
whose judgment they would abide." 

Now although these brethren erred in their judgment, 
they undoubtedly manifested much of the meekness of 
Christianity, in agreeing, for the sake of peace and har- 
mony, to relinquish their project, and wait tor further 
advice from their venerable founder. No doubt, also, they 
were prompted to this step, not from a restless ambition, 
but from a love to the souls of the people who had been 
converted to God by their ministry, and who were anxious 
to receive the ordinances of Christ at their hands. 

In preventing a division in the societies at this time, 
which must have been attended with very deleterious 
effects on the work of God, Mr. Garrettson took a very 
active and efficient agency, in conjunction with Messrs. 
Asbury, Watters and Drumgole. Mr. Asbury says, |C When 
we could not come to a conclusion with them, we with- 
drew and left them to deliberate on the conditions I offered, 
which were to suspend the measures they had taken for 
one year." To this they refused to submit, until the next 
day, when, says Mr. Asbury, " they were brought to an 
agreement while I had been praying, as with a broken 
heart, in the house we went to lodge at, and brothers 
Watters and Garrettson had been praying up stairs where 
the conference sat. We heard what they had to say, and 
surely the hand of God may be seen in all this. There 
might have been twenty promising preachers, and three 
thousand people seriously affected by this separation ; but 
the Lord would not suffer this." Thus, by the mutual 
endeavours of these holy men of God, this breach, which 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



121 



i seemed to threaten the dissolution of the body, was healed, 
and peace and harmony restored. Mr. Garrettson says, 
i( Having accomplished our business, we set our faces to 
the north with gladness of heart, praising the Lord for his 
great goodness." Returning to Baltimore, where he was 
appointed to labour, he set apart a day for fasting and 
! prayer, and the Lord abundantly blessed him. Such, how- 
; ever, was the ardour of his soul in behalf of lost sinners, 
that he did not long confine himself to the city ; for we 
soon find him in the country, where he makes the follow- 
ing reflections : " With delight I viewed the rising morn ; 
the fields are clad with a beautiful green ; the creation is 
smiling, and the birds tuning their notes. Surely an im- 
mortal spirit ought to praise the Creator of the universe.' ? 
j After labouring for several weeks in Baltimore and the 
I adjoining county with great success, he crossed the Chesa- 
peake again to the Peninsula " Having," says he, " a 
; good horse, and being seldom sick enough to desist from 
travelling, or weary enough to complain, I could travel 
t from twenty to fifty miles a day, and preach from one to 
four sermons. During the five or six weeks I remained 
here, I visited most of the circuits : the congregations were 
larger than usual, and never for the time had I brighter 
i prospects. Many evil reports were raised against me ; 
I but my manner was to go straight forward in the line ot 
| my duty. When I returned many gathered at the Fork 
chapel from all quarters ; and among the crowd, I espied 
my old uncle T. who had heard and believed the reports ; 
and was determined, as I understood, to detect me in the 
midst of the people. Never shall I forget the day ; for the 
Lord manifested his power : the heart of my dear old 
uncle was softened, and tears flowed down his face. After 
I he left the chapel, he said to some of his acquaintances, 
! i Surely my cousin is belied.' He came and begged me 
to go home with him, which I did. The next day he 
followed me five miles ; arid the tears flowed plentifully. 



U2 



LIFE OF THE 



When we were about to part, he asked me what compen- 
sation he should make me, for the benefit which he had 
received. ' Will you,' said-he, ' receive a suit of clothes V 
I thanked him kindly, telling him that I had as much 
clothing as was necessary. He then put his hand in his 
pocket, and pulled out eighty continental dollars, which at 
that time were worth about twenty hard dollars : at first 
J refused ; but he would not be denied. So I took them, 
and some time after gave them to brother S., a man who 
needed them. When we parted he told me that he ex- 
pected to see me no more : it was even so, for some time 
after the Lord called him away. 

" I continued in this circuit till the following spring, 
and enjoyed precious moments. Many were brought into 
gospel liberty, and added to the society ; and some receiv- 
ed the second blessing. I trust I grew in grace and know- 
ledge during my stay ; and felt myself an unprofitable serv- 
ant : very unworthy of the many favours which I received 
from the precious, loving followers of Christ in this circuit." 

Just before Mr. Garrettson visited the Peninsula, he 
gives the following account: " I went to bed very happy, 
but my night visions were uncommonly strange : I thought 
I was taken dangerously ill, and expected shortly to be in 
eternity. I doubt not but I felt just as dying persons do. 
I appeared to be surrounded with thousands of devils, who 
were all striving to take from me my confidence ; and for 
a time it seemed almost gone. I began an examination 
from my first awakenings — then my conversion — my call 
to preach — the motives which induced me to enter this 
great work — my intention, and life from the beginning. 
In the time of this examination, every fear was dismissed, 
—every fiend vanished ; and a band of holy angels suc- 
ceeded with the most melodious music that I ever heard. 
I then began to ascend, accompanied by this heavenly 
host ; and thought every moment the body would drop off f 
m& my spirit take its flight. After ascending a vast 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



123 



height, I was overshadowed with a cloud as white as a 
sheet ; and in that cloud I saw a person the most beauti- 
ful that my eyes ever beheld. I wanted to be dislodged 
from this tabernacle, and take my everlasting flight. That 
glorious person, more bright than the sun in its meridian 
brilliancy, spoke to me as follows : ' If you continue faith- 
ful to the end, this shall be your place ; but you cannot 
come now, return and be faithful ; there is more work for 
you to do.' Immediately I awoke, and my spirit was so 
elevated with a sense of eternal things, that I thought I 
should sleep no more that night. Great and glorious dis- 
coveries have been made to me both sleeping and waking ; 
but all the promises of heaven and eternal glory have been 
conditional. In Scripture we have a little, but significant 
word, if — If you are faithful until death, you shall have a 
crown of life. I would advise all the children of God to be 
very careful and watchful, and continue in well doing until 
death. Some suppose that we ought not to put any de- 
pendence in dreams and visions. We should lay the same 
stress on them in this our day, as wise and good men have 
done in all ages. Very great discoveries were made to 
Peter, Paul, and others in their night visions. But is 
there not a danger of laying too much stress on them 1 
We are indeed in danger from a variety of sources ; and 
the only safe way to escape from the illusions of error is 
to try every thing by the written standard : if enlightened 
by the Holy Spirit, by taking heed to that word which is 
a lamp to our path, we shall not be suffered to go astray,' " 



124 



LIFE OF THE 



CHAPTER IX. 

Goes to Little York — Curious account of the conversion of a man 
and his wife— Effects thereof on the people— Goes to Colchester- 
Curious account of a deluded woman— Persecution rages — Visits a 
distressed man — Opposed by some soldiers who were quartered in 
the town — Powerful effects of the word preached -Attends confer 
arice in Baltimore where unanimity prevails — Great distress in Vir- 
ginia—Rev. Mr. Jarret friendly to the Methodists. 

On the 24th day of January, 1781 ' Mr. Garrettson set 
off to visit Little Y ork in Pennsylvania. Stopping at a 
tavern for the night, he lectured on the 7th chapter of St. 
Matthew, and in time of family prayer the Lord powerfully 
awakened a gentleman who lodged there also. 

" Tuesday 25th, I went into the town, and in the after- 
noon the bell rang, and I preached in the Dutch church. 
The gentleman's lady (who was awakened the evening 
before) got her heart touched. When he came home in 
the evening, he spoke to this effect, ' My dear, I heard 
such a man last night as I never saw or heard before, and 
if what he said be true, we are all in the way to hell.' ' I 
suspect/ said she, ' he is the same man whom I heard this 
afternoon in Wagoner's church. I believe his doctrine is 
true, and that we are all in the way to ruin.' 4 Well,' said 
he, 1 let us set about our salvation.' ' I am willing,' said she. 

" Having an appointment, I preached at Mr. G.'s, the 
Lutheran minister : and after meeting we had an agreea- 
ble conversation. His mother and sister, whose hearts 
the Lord had touched, accompanied me to Berlin, where 
I preached to a large congregation with great freedom. 
I again had an opportunity in the evening to hold up a 
loving Saviour to the listening multitude. 

" By this time a persecution had arisen among the peo- 
ple in Little York and its vicinity : the enemy of souls had 
taken an advantage of my two friends who were awakened : 



EEV. F. GARRETTSON. 



12b 



Being under deep distress, and sorely tempted of the devil, 
not knowing what to do, at length they prepared water, 
and washed themselves; then put on clean clothes, and 
concluded that it was the new birth. After they came 
from their room, they kissed their two children, a son and 
I daughter well nigh grown, and told them they were new 
ji born. Being in a great measure bereft of their senses, 
I and the enemy ready to take every advantage, ( Come/ 
I said they, 'old things must be done away, and all things 
must become new.' They then began to throw their old 
clothing and blankets on the fire ; and among other things 
they threw on a large bundle of paper money. 6 This/ 
said he, 4 is an old thing, and must be done away/ The 
t neighbours being alarmed, ran in and saved many things ; 

but I suppose they did not sustain less than fifteen pounds 
\ loss. A minister was sent for, and he desired a doctor to 
\ be called ; for they knew not what was the matter. A 
Quaker woman came to see them, who said, ' she did not 
I know of any one that could be of service to them, unless 
it was the man that was the occasion of it.' The cry was ? 
such a man ought not to go through the country ; and that 
some desired me to be apprehended and put into jail. I was 
about twenty miles off, but as soon as I heard of it, mounted 
my horse and got to them as quickly as possible. When 
the neighbours saw me, several gathered into the room. 
When I entered the house, I perceived that the woman 
looked strange, and the man was in bed under the hands 
of the doctor, with several blister plasters on him. I saf 
down by his bed side (she sat on the foot of the bed) and 
asked him what he wanted' — 4 To be new born,' said he, 
Taking out my little Bible, I read and lectured on a chap- 
ter; and sensibly felt that the Lord was present to heal 
It brought to my mind the time when St. Peter visited 
Cornelius. I believe in the time of the exhortation and 
prayer the Lord not only opened the way of salvation to 
those two distressed ones, but to several others who came 

12 



126 



LIFE OF THE 



in ; and we had a precious sweet time. I desired them to 
take his blister plasters off. Glory to God ! he restored 
them, not only to their natural but spiritual senses. A 
good and gracious God has his own way of working among 
the children of men. Though at first this circumstance 
caused me great distress of mind, in the end it was fo? 
good ; many were astonished and brought to a serious 
consideration. Although the church door was shut against 
me, a large school room was opened, in which I preached 
a sermon on the occasion, to about three hundred souls : 
the Lord touched the hearts of many ; and my tw T o mad 
people (as they had been called) were able to rejoice in 
the Lord. Soon after this a loving society was formed in 
the neighbourhood. 

" Wednesday 22d, I had a tedious journey to Colches- 
ter ; but found the parents of one family, who were awak- 
ened when I was there before, mourning for Jesus ; and 
I had freedom to preach to the people. In the morning 
I sat out again for Berlin, and missed my way. I am 
burdened — surely it is a burden which the Lord hath laid 
upon me, and it is for the best. I called at a house to 
inquire for the road ; I heard a dismal groaning and lament- 
ing within. I alighted from my horse and went in ; and 
found the woman of the house wringing her hands and 
mourning bitterly. Good woman, said I, what is the mat- 
ter with you ? 4 Sir,' said she, ' have you never heard what 
has happened ? I have sold my three little children to the 
devil, and on such a day he is to come for them.' I can 
prove to you, said I, that it is out of your power to sell 
your children to the devil, for they belong to God. I read 
and explained to her parts of several chapters ; but it 
seemed all in vain. Her husband came in, and I desired 
him to. get a horse and take her to preaching that after- 
noon. After he had got the horse, I desired her to make 
ready, and go to preaching with her husband. ' O,' said 
she, ' 1 cannot think of leaving my dear little children in 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



127 



tlxje arms of the devil.' After some time she was prevailed 
on to go. Her husband told me, that she had carried a 
razor in her bosom for three weeks, with an intention, 
first to take the lives of her children, before the day came 
that she thought the devil was to come for them, and then 
to take her own life. I preached a sermon suited to her con- 
dition, and it pleased the Lord to visit her soul in mercy : 
so that after preaching she came to me in a rapture of joy^ 
blessing and praising God that she ever saw my face She 
became a blessed pious woman. I then knew the cause 
of my being lost. O God, thou art good, and I will praise 
thee ! thou art kind, and I will give glory to thy holy 
name ! 

" Friday, February 24th, I returned to town, and the 
persecution raged so furiously, that I thought it most ex- 
pedient to preach at Mr. W.'s, a mile out of town. Many 
gathered, and we had a moving time. The next day we 
had a powerful season ; and the hearts of some of my 
enemies were reached. 

" Sunday, February 26th, I never saw so many out in 
this place before, and even some who had thought it a sin 
to hear me were present, and I never witnessed a more 
general moving in any place where preaching had been so 
short a time. In this county there were, I think, sixteen 
different denominations, and some of all seemed zealous in 
their way. In the afternoon I again returned and preached 
at D. W.'s, where one woman was struck under conviction, 
and cried aloud for mercy. There was a shaking through 
the whole assembly : I felt the power of faith, and was 
greatly enlightened in the Holy Scriptures." 

Returning to town again, he found more peace than 
formerly. 

"Tuesday, March 1st, being desired the day before to 
\isit a distressed man, one who was troubled with an evil 
spirit, between day break and sunrise I called his minis- 
ter out of bed, and desired him to go with me. We went. 



LIFE OF THE 



and I desired all to leave the room, except the distressed 
man, his wife, the minister, and myself I then desired 
him to open to me his case. He said that ' for a long time 
the devil had followed him, and that he had frequently 
seen him with his bodily eyes.' The dear man was under 
conviction, but knew not what was the matter with him 
I told him my experience, and gave him as good directions 
as I was capable of. I prayed for him, and so likewise 
did his minister in Dutch. I understood afterwards that 
he was troubled no more in the same way, and he became 
one of my quiet hearers. 

t( I visited the country and experienced great displays 
of the awakening power of God ; for many precious peo- 
ple, both Dutch and English, were inquiring the way to 
heaven. I again returned to town, and preached to about 
three hundred people by candle light : but some were 
offended. I appointed to preach the next evening. In 
town there were many soldiers billetted, and the officers 
declared that if I attempted to preach again, they would 
take me to jail : so I understood by my friends, who 
desired me to decline. I was not afraid of their threats^ 
but in the evening attended the appointment. Shortly 
after I had taken my text, ' Quench not the Spirit,' 1 Thess, 
v } 19, several officers with a company of soldiers came to 
the place, but the house was so crowded that none could 
get in but the officers, who fixed themselves by my right 
hand, one of whom stood on a bench with his staff in his 
hand, lifted up several times either to strike or frighten 
me ; but had a bat, or an owl lighted on the wall, I should 
have been as much afraid. The devil cannot lead his 
factors further than the length of his chain. After sermon, 
was ended, all withdrew, and no harm was done. I was 
surprised to see the same officers come peaceably to hear 
the word the next night. The next day I had an invita- 
tion to preach to the soldiers ; but as 1 was under a neces- 
sity of leaving town, I could not.'* 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



1'29 



Notwithstanding the opposition of some, Mr. Garrettson 
continued to travel through the country, and to pseach 
with his usual zeal and success. While one cried out. 
*' Sir, can you tell me what I shall do to be saved, for I 
am the wickedest man in the whole county," others said, 
u This is the right religion ;" and so great was the influ- 
ence of truth, that although he observed that he was never 
in a place where there was such a variety of sects, it seemed 
to him as if sects and names would be lost, and the name 
of Christ be all in all. During his labours in this part of 
his Lord's vineyard, which was a little over two months, 
he says that he " preached in more than twenty different 
places, and thought that more than three hundred people 
were under powerful awakenings, besides a number who 
had already found the pearl of great price. About one 
hundred had joined the societies." 

On the 22d he left the circuit for conference in the city 
of Baltimore, where he arrived, after a ride of sixty miles, 
about sunset, and heard a sermon in the evening. 

At this conference they had great peace, as all the 
preachers agreed to abide by the decision of Mr. Wesley- 
respecting the ordinances. 

This year, 1781, in Virginia, where Mr. Garrettson was 
appointed to travel, was a time of great distress, on ac- 
count of the war. Lord Cornwallis was then harassing 
the people with his army, and the Americans were exert- 
ing themselves to oppose his progress; so that by the 
inarching and countermarching of armies, and frequent 
skirmishes, the minds of the people were constantly excited 
with fear and perplexity ; a state of mind very unfavoura- 
ble to the progress of religion. 

Another circumstance tended not a little to arrest the 
progress of truth and righteousness. Though the disputes 
respecting the ordinances were amicably terminated among 
the preachers who composed the conference, yet in Vir- 
ginia and North Carolina, there were some local preachers, 

12* 



130 



LIFE OF THE 



and many of the private members who were not so easily 
pacified. One object in sending Mr. Garrettson into those 
parts appears to have been, being a son of peace, and pos- 
sessing considerable influence among preachers and peo- 
ple, that he might be instrumental in restoring union and 
confidence among the brethren. This, after considerable 
labour, accompanied with much prayer, he in a great mea- 
sure accomplished before the end of the year. 

Amidst the troubles arising from these sources, Mr. 
Garrettson found his mind much refreshed, and his hands 
strengthened, by the good countenance and spiritual con- 
versation of the Rev. Mr. Jarrat, a pious clergyman of the 
Church of England. Mr. Jarrat received the Methodists 
with open arms, invited Mr. Garrettson into his pulpit, and 
as the Methodists had not the ordinances of God's house 
among themselves, Mr. Jarrat supplied this lack of service 
by inviting them to the table of the Lord in his church, 
and occasionally administering baptism and the Lord's 
supper to them in other places. Of this pious and zealous 
clergyman, Mr. Garrettson makes honourable mention. 

"I have had," says he, "some happy seasons in his 
congregation, particularly on sacramental occasions. At 
one time about three hundred of his parishioners com- 
muned, and the place seemed awful on account of the 
power and presence of God. Mr. Jarrat told me that 
when a lad, while studying under President Davies, he was 
brought under a4ravail of soul, and that when the burden 
was removed, and>he received regenerating grace, he was 
as sensible of it as he would have been, (to use his own 
expression,) if a ton weight had been rolled from his body.' r 
He arrived on his circuit, Essex, in Virginia, June 4th, 
1781, and going to an appointment at Ellis's chapel, he 
says, " As I entered the door I saw a man in the pulpit 
dressed in black, engaged in prayer. I soon perceived 
he was a man bereft of his reason. I went into the pulpit 
and desired him to desist, After he ended, I gave out his 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



131 



text, and began to preach. But I had no other way to 
stop him, than to desire the people to withdraw. His tes- 
timony was, that he was a prophet sent of God to teach 
the people ; and that it was revealed to him a person was 
to interrupt him in his discourse. After a few minutes 
the people returned, and all was still. I then gave out ? 
6 Feed my sheep,' John xxi, 17. I had liberty in showing, 
1. The character mentioned in the text — sheep; 2, why 
the followers of our Lord might be called sheep ; and 3, how 
the sheep are to be fed. 1. The Shepherd ; 2, the food ; 
and 3, the manner of feeding the flock. The prophet 
returned home, and that night he told his family, at such 
an hour he would go into a trance ; and that they must 
not bury him till after such a time, should he not survive. 
Accordingly, to appearance he was in a trance. The 
next day I was sent for to visit him. Many were weeping 
around the bed, in which he lay like a corpse, for I could not 
perceive that he breathed. He was once happy in God, 
and a sensible useful man. About the time of which he 
spoke, he came to himself Satan was partly disappointed ; 
for in some measure he was restored to his reason, and I 
took him part of the way round the circuit with me. What 
was the cause of this 1 Satan prompted him to think more 
highly of himself than he ought to think ; and so he fell 
into the condemnation of the devil. I had a hope before we 
parted, that his fallen soul was restored. Some time after 
this he began again to preach Christ ; and I trust was more 
humble than ever. I continued on this circuit about three 
months, had many happy hours, and some distressing ones. 
Two things were a great distress to my mind: 1. The 
spirit of fightings and 2, that of slavery, which ran among 
the people. I was resolved to be found in my duty, and 
keep back no part of the counsel of God. Day and night 
I could hear the roaring of the cannon, for I was not far 
from York town during the siege and the surrender of Corn- 
wallis. Many of our pious friends were absolutely against 



132 



LIFE OF THE 



fighting, and some of them suffered much on that ac- 
count, for they were compelled, or taken by force into the 
field ; though they would sooner have lost their own lives 
than take the life of any human creature. I saw it my 
duty to cry down this kind of proceeding, declaring that 
it could not be justified in the oracles of God. I was, in 
a particular manner, led to preach against the practice of 
slave holding. Several were convinced of the impiety of 
the practice, and liberated their slaves : others who did 
not liberate them, were convinced that they ought to use 
them better than they had done. Had it not been for these 
two evils, I might have been more popular among the peo- 
ple. I preached at a quarterly meeting at Mabery's chapel, 
where there were about two thousand present, of all ranks : 
and being pressed in spirit, I cried, ' Do justice, love mercy , 
and walk humbly with thy God.' There were more than 
a thousand people who could not get into the chapel, and 
some of those without called out for an officer to take me. 
After meeting was ended, I walked through the midst of 
them, but no one laid hands on me." 

After preaching in several places, in all of which he 
found the power and presence of God to be with him, it 
seems he went to form a new circuit ; for he says, " I am 
now in my element, forming a new circuit, and I have 
pleasing prospects. I preached in one place, and there 
was a great shaking among the people. I preached again 
the next day, and the power of the Lord in a most won- 
derful manner came down. I was somewhat surprised — 
the rich are brought to mourn for Christ. Several fell 
under the word. A major was so powerfully wrought on, 
that I suppose he would have fallen from his seat had not 
the colonel held him up. A large society was united in 
this place, mostly of the rich. About this time I received 
a letter from Mr. Asbury, in which I was informed that he 
could not visit the south, and that it was his desire I should 
see to stationing the preachers." 



REV. F. GARRET TSONo 



133 



It seems that at the request of Mr. Asbury, who wa^ 
the general assistant under Mr. Wesley, Mr. Garrettson 
travelled through several circuits, attended the quarterly 
meetings, held lovefeasts, and exercised a sort of general 
superintendency over preachers and people, in the absence 
of Mr. Asbury. Hence at his request he visited the cir- 
cuits on the north side of James' river, where he found 
them in some confusion respecting administering the ordi- 
nances, and not a little disturbed on the question of slavery. 
Some, however, had liberated their slaves, and those who 
yet plead for the ordinances were tolerably pacified through 
his mediation. In this tour he had the satisfaction of 
meeting his brother Richard, a travelling preacher, with 
whom he was much refreshed, and whose labours had been 
greatly blessed among the people. Coming from thence 
to Baltimore, and finding the small pox raging, he was 
inoculated. He concludes his account of his labours on 
this tour, with the following reflections : " I think my 
Lord made me instrumental in uniting to us many brethren ? 
both preachers and people, who had disagreed with us 
about the ordinances. I can say it was a year of humilia- 
tion, and believe I grew in knowledge as well as in grace/' 



CHAPTER X. 

Travels extensively through Virginia and North Carolina— Poll 
tical difficulties — Goes to Little York — Preaches in the fields- 
Preaches on the doctrine of perfection — Remarkable dream — Re» 
marks on infant baptism — Greatly encouraged to persevere — Visits 
and rejoices with his old friends — Mourns over the stupidity of the 
people — Attends conference in Baltimore — Account of a blind man 
— Interesting account of a young female ~ Attends to the people of 
colour — Conversion of a great opposer— - Meets Dr. Coke — Reflec- 
tions on Mr. Wesley's plan for the organization of a church — Goes 
to call a conference of the preachers at Baltimore. 

There is a chasm here in his printed journal of about 
three years, from 1781 to 1794. This, however, is sup* 



134 



LIFE OF THE 



plied in the manuscript journal which he has left behind, 
and which has been carefully transcribed by his surviving 
and only daughter, Miss Mary K. Garrettson, whose pious 
and affectionate duty to her father was a solace to him in 
the decline of his life, and especially in his dying moments, 
During the year 1781, Mr. Garrettson says, " I travelled 
about five thousand miles, preached about five hundred 
sermons, visited most of the circuits in Virginia'and North 
Carolina, and opened one new circuit, in which the Lord 
began a blessed work, so that many, both rich and poor, 
joined the society." It was a year of great distress, in 
consequence of the sanguinary conflicts between the Bri- 
tish and American armies. And as Mr. Garrettson was 
averse to war from principle, as well as to slave holding, 
a practice so prevalent in the country in which he then 
laboured, he met with no little difficulty : but he says, 
H Though some threats were uttered against me, I passed 
on unhurt, looking continually to Jesus ; for I can say I 
did not think my life dear to me, if I could only win souls 
to Christ, and get safely to heaven myself." 

From the conference in Baltimore, he took his journey 
to Little York, where he was joyfully received by his 
friends. From the almost daily notices in his journal, in 
which we behold the same constant breathing after God, 
the same thirst for the salvation of sinners, it appears that 
he continued from place to place, preaching a free and a 
full salvation, with a diligence and success rarely to be 
met with. On Friday, April 18th, he paid a visit to a 
place called Devil's Island, where he says he had " glori- 
ous times" in preaching to the people. A faithful class on 
this island bid him welcome, and added much to his com- 
fort, and gave a pledge of future good. Passing thence 
to the continent, he frequently met such crowds of peo- 
ple at his appointments, as no house would contain ; and 
therefore was obliged to preach to them after the example 
of the venerable Wesley, in the open fields, or in the grove? 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



135 



After noticing that, on one occasion, he had preached to 
some hundreds under the trees, he says he had " seldom 
seen a more solemn time." 

" Monday 28, the stewards, leaders, exhorters, and local 
preachers, met at seven o'clock. Our lovefeast began at 
nine, and public preaching at twelve. I had promised 
the day before to preach a sermon on perfection ; but 
knowing that many gainsayers of this doctrine would be 
at the meeting, I felt that the cross was very heavy, and 
I arose with fear and trembling ; but glory be to God ! no 
sooner had I opened my mouth, than I felt sensibly the 
presence of my Saviour ; and although the house was 
crowded, and many who could not get in were standing 
without, and a company of soldiers who came to seek for 
a deserter, were there, yet I know not that I ever preached 
to a more solemn audience : most of them were in tears, 
and many who had been opposed to the doctrine of holi- 
ness, were convinced of its truth. My own soul was wrap- 
ped in love. O that I could always be in such a frame as 
this! Blessed be God, I hope many of the friends are on 
stretch for more of the mind of Jesus. O for that love that 
casts out fear !" 

It would seem that the subject of these memoirs, not- 
withstanding his entire devotedness to the service of his 
God, was often reduced to great trials of mind, and some- 
times to a depression of spirits. On some of these occa- 
sions it appears that the Lord instructed and encouraged 
him in dreams and visions of the night ; and though im- 
plicit confidence may not be placed in dreams, because 
f< we have a more sure word of prophecy," yet who that 
reads his Bible but what knows that " in a dream, in a 
vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon man, in 
slumbering upon the bed, then he openeth the ears of men^ 
and sealeth their instruction." We have in some of the 
preceding chapters noticed the thoughts which often occu- 
pied this holy man upon his bed. The following is no less 
remarkable than any of the preceding. 



136 



LIFE OF THE 



" Monday 5th, I think I shall never be satisfied until J 
hates a deeper work of grace in my soul. 

1 1 drink, and yet am ever dry.' 

In my way to Devil's Island I called in at a friend's house, 
where I laid down on a bed in a private room, and fell 
into a sound sleep. I began to dream, and thought some 
wicked people came to the place where I was, and spoke 
evil of the ways of God : the man of the house asked me 
to go to prayer ; but it seemed as if I could neither sing 
nor pray with them : after a while they began to sing — 
Satan was striving against me, and I was struggling with 
all my might. I wanted to call for help, but could not. 
It appeared to me that in a great measure I got the victory : 
in a short time I seemed to be dying. I began to search 
for my witness of God's favour, and I sensibly felt that I 
might have been more faithful. I wished to live longer 
that I might be instrumental in bringing souls to Jesus. 
Instead, however, of dying, I imagined that I fell into a 
trance, and was taken into the other world, where I had 
a view of hell. At first I had an imperfect view of it, and 
it was thought expedient for me to en£er its mouth. O 
what an awful scene was presented to my mind. What 
feelings I had for precious souls ! all my pain was for them, 
as I thought the fire had no power to hurt me; but I 
trembled to think of their agonies : on looking forward I 
could see no end to that sea of fire, whose high surges, one 
after another, with the interval of a few minutes, contin- 
ually rolled along. I looked at them as they came, and 
saw the damned beat about by them in all the tortures of 
agony — toiling and striving to stem the waves, which, like 
molten metal, drove them back, while the place resounded 
with their bitter groans. O, it was indescribably awful ! 
sometimes the sea would sink into a black calm, and a 
dismal noisome smoke would ascend. I stood and trem- 
bled while I saw the damned rising out of the embers, and 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



13? 



then other waves of the liquid fire would arise and beat 
them back. As I stood looking, it was said, 'Will you 
after this be faithful in warning sinners?' I thought I 
would be more faithful than ever, and that my whole life 
should be spent in warning them. I then requested to be 
carried to heaven ; but the answer was, ' You have seen 
enough ; return and be faithful.' On awaking I sat up 
in the bed in wonder ; then kneeling down, I found that 
the Lord Jesus was precious to my soul. At four o'clock 
I preached on the island. Thanks be to my Saviour for 
these precious happy souls. Jesus was near to me ! O 
Lord, make me more faithful than ever." 

Whatever may be thought of the above dream, it is cer- 
tain that there is a place of endless torment for the wicked 
in a future state, " where the worm dieth not, and the fire 
is not quenched." And as " eye hath not seen, nor ear 
heard," the things that God hath prepared for those that 
love him, so hath it not entered into the heart of man to 
conceive the things, the terribleness of that " blackness of 
darkness" which those must inherit who die unreconciled 
to God. Mr. Garrettson observes, 

"Thursday 15th, in my sermon at 1 endeavoured 

to discover the propriety of infant baptism. 1. If any of 
you can prove that infant initiation was ever thrown out of 
the church, then it will be time for me to prove that it 
was again received. St. Paul tells us that the " unbelieving 
husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving 
wife by the husband ; else were your children unclean, 
but now are they holy,' 1 Cor. vii, 14. It is obvious the 
apostle was speaking to those Gentile converts who were 
for leaving their heathen wives and husbands. He here 
recommends them to live together : tells them their chil- 
dren are holy. They possessed a covenant holiness : 
though but one believed, their children had a right to bap- 
tism. 2. The reason why we have so large an account of 
ddults being baptized, was because the gospel dispensation 

13 



138 



LIFE OF THE 



had just commenced ; and all believers were to be made 
partakers of the ordinance, as well as their children ; for . 
* the promise is to you and to your children,' Acts ii, 36, 
Whole households were baptized. I proved infant justifi- 
cation by Scripture, Rom. v, IS, 19, &x. 

"On the evening of the 25th, I preached Prudence 
Hudson's funeral sermon to about five hundred people. 
It was three years last winter that I first came into this 
place, when she, though moral, was with others going on 
in the way to ruin. When she heard of salvation by faith 
she was convinced of her undone condition. She followed 
the preaching night and day. Go where I would, if within 
eight or ten miles, she was there, and she generally walked 
to the meetings. For some months she groaned under a 
spirit of bondage ; but God in his own good time delivered 
her soul from the guilt and power of sin. She received 
the Spirit of adoption, whereby she was enabled to cry* 
Abba, Father. I frequently met her in class, where she 
always seemed to be desirous of loving God supremely. 
I believe from the time she became religious, she never 
did any thing to grieve iier brethren, or wound the cause 
of God. She afterwards married a pious young man, and 
after the birth of her first child, she was impressed with 
an idea that God would take her out of the world. She 
expressed a fear that she was not cleansed from all sin, 
and desired her husband to pray for her. Shortly after, 
as she was lifting her heart to God, he in great mercy 
poured his love into her soul in a manner which caused 
her to cry out, 1 Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, and take 
my raptured soul away.' To her weeping friends she 
repeated the goodness of God — whose grace, she said, had 
sanctified her wholly, and made her meet for glory. She 
bid them dry their tears, for she was going to heaven. She 
embraced her parents and thanked them for their kindness, 
and exhorted her class mates to faithfulness. Many a 
time, said she to them, have we walked together to our 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



139 



meetings; and now I am going to receive my reward. 
She warned her husband against keeping slaves. Her 
soul seemed to be so enraptured with the love of God, that 
she would frequently cry out, ' O death, where is thy sting ! 

grave, where is thy victory !' Thus she continued some 
days exhorting all around her, and so fell asleep in the 
arms of Jesus. O that Christians would bestir themselves 
to greater faithfulness." 

After passing through various places, and preaching to 
crowded audiences, he observes under date of Nov. 12, 
1782, "I rode down in the Neck, and preached near 
Delaware bay. Four years ago I preached in this house, 
when the whole Neck seemed to be in Egyptian darkness. 

1 never visited them again until now : and though I then 
laboured (as I thought) to little purpose, I now find among 
them two scores professing the knowledge of Jesus, many 
of whom date their conversion from that day : this encou- 
rages me to draw the bow at a venture, and leave the 
event to God. Lord, increase my faith, and give me greater 
deadness to the world." 

How consoling and encouraging is it to a faithful minis- 
ter, to witness the salutary effects of his ministry in the 
holy lives and triumphant deaths of his spiritual children ! 
These are the living and dying witnesses of the power and 
truth of that gospel he preaches, and will be his " crown 
of rejoicing in that day." This solace was imparted, in 
a high degree, in numerous instances, to Mr. Garrettson, 
The following instance he relates, under date of Dec. 29 : 
J* I met G. M. and we rejoiced together in considering 
the good which God has done in this part of his vineyard. 
On the 28th, preached a funeral sermon over our dear 
departed brother Smith, who lived for many years a life 
of piety. He was a man of affliction, but he bore it with 
Christian patience and fortitude. He, in a measure, lost 
his speech for some months before his death. I visited 
him several times in his sickness, and though he could not 



140 



LIFE OF THE 



speak so that I could understand him, my soul was refresh- 
ed, and by the signs he made, and the tears which so 
plentifully flowed from his eyes, I had not a doubt or fear 
but his soul was transported with joy. Happy he lived, 
happy he died, leaving a family happy in God ; and glory 
to God ! I have no doubt but his soul is happy at God's 
right hand. O that all my dear friends and children may 
make as happy an end ! I rode to Mr. Barcel's chapel, and 
spent two or three hours in watching for the coming of 
Christ ; and blessed be God, we found him in our hearts. 

" Sunday 29th, preached again in Barcel's chapel. This 
week I spent in preaching and visiting the friends : my 
soul is sweetly drawn out to serve God ; and if I had a 
thousand tongues, I would employ them all in praising my 
dear Master." 

None but those who have had an experience of it can 
fully realize the happiness resulting from the visits of mi- 
nisters after a long absence, among those who had been 
converted under their ministry, and still finding them 
f< steadfast in the faith." " I have no greater joy than to 
find my children walking in the truth," said St. John. 
The following circumstances related by Mr. Garrettson 
will illustrate the truth of this remark : — 

" January 5, 1783, I am once more among my Dover 
friends. Surely God is among these people. The last sab- 
bath I preached here, the Lord in mercy laid his hand upon 
one of the greatest persecutors in the town ; finding no 
rest, he cried mightily to God, and he converted both him- 
self, his wife, and his brother's wife : they are now happy 
in religion, going on hand in hand with the brethren: 
and he is resolutely determined on building a brick chapel. 
Shall we not give the glory to God, who can change the 
hearts of lion-like men and women in so short a time ? I 
have great freedom both in preaching, exhorting, prayer, 
and visiting the friends. God has done and is doing great 
things for the people in this town, I visited sister Basset, 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



141 



who has been a long time under the afflicting hand of 
divine Providence. I think her one of the happiest women 
I have met with. I believe her to be a living witness of 
sanctification ; her soul seems to be continually wrapped 
in a flame of love. Several of this family are happy in 
the love of God ; four of whom enjoy that degree of it 
which casts out fear. Surely God has a church in this 
house. 

" On the 30th I sat out to visit the societies in Kent 
and Newcastle : I generally preach once and twice every 
day, besides meeting the classes ; and I bless God for the 
sweet consolation I have. Many are happily going on to 
perfection. I think if I know myself, I have set out in 
this new year, (1783,) to live a life of devotion to God." 

The following item in his journal may be considered as 
descriptive of a heart deeply penetrated with the worth of 
immortal souls, as well as of the exercises peculiar in some 
sense to a true minister of Jesus Christ. Such often cry 
out, " The burden of the Lord ! the burden of the Lord 
are these." Those who " prophesy for hire, and preach 
for gain," may think lightly of such exercises ; but the 
true "minister of the sanctuary" often " weeps between 
the porch and the altar, saying, Spare thy people, good 
Lord, and give not thine heritage to the heathen." 

" Thursday 6th, I began this morning to read Nicode- 
mus on the fear of man, and in the afternoon preached to 
a crowded audience, many more than could get in the 
house. I thought during the sermon, surely these people 
must be convinced ; they were in a flood of tears : how is 
it? I fear they weep, and repent, and sin again. When 
I was in this neighbourhood several years ago, they were 
in the same condition ; nearly thirty in society, and but 
two believers ! O God, thou must do the work : stretch 
forth thy powerful hand. My soul is distressed for the 
people : many who, I fear, live in sin, appeared to be a.^ 
glad to see me as if I had been their father. I always 

13* 



142 



LIFE OF THE 



endeavour to preach as plain truths to them as I possibly 
can. This has been a day of temptation : Satan would 
persuade me that my life was a life of misery ; but I am 
sure one soul is of more value than ten thousand worlds ! 
Lord give me a more earnest desire for all the mind that 
was in Jesus. O that I may give an account before my 
Master for the improvement of this comfortable room: 
though an unprofitable servant, God gives me great favour 
in the sight of the people." 

It seems that Mr. Garrettson was now travelling over 
ground which he had been the means of ploughing and 
sowing some years since. He found that in most places 
the good seed of the kingdom had taken deep root, and 
was now springing up and bearing fruit ; while in other 
places there was reason to believe the seed had fallen " by 
the way side, or upon stony ground." In this visit among 
Iris old friends and spiritual children in Kent and Dorset 
counties, his spirit was much refreshed and strengthened, 
while he preached in crowded houses, and sometimes in 
the fields, to from one thousand to one thousand five hun- 
dred people. On the 27th of May, 1783, he attended the 
conference in Baltimore, at which there w r ere, he says, 
about sixty preachers, all of whom appeared to be in the 
spirit of the gospel. 

From this conference he went to Talbot circuit. While 
he rejoiced over some who had remained steadfast, and 
amidst the persecution they endured, loved and supported 
each other, he had to mourn over others who had departed 
from the faith, particularly some who had been guilty of 
a practice plainly repugnant to the economy of the gospel. 
Mr. Garrettson gives the following interesting account of 
a blind man : " The man of the house is entirely blind, 
but glory to God ! I believe he has spiritual eye sight, and 
oan view the Redeemer by faith. I was very much sur- 
prised the next day to find him, as he rode with me to 
•preaching, directing the boy who was to have been our 



REV. F. GARRETT SON. 



143 



guide, but whose horse took the wrongroad, he having fallen 
asleep ; the blind man soon detected his mistake, roused 
him from his sleep, and set him right. In passing the 
fields of corn or wheat, he would make very judicious 
remarks on the state of the crops. When he came near 
a house, he would point to it, and tell me the owner's 
name ; and when we came nearly opposite the paths, &,c 9 
which intersected the road, he would direct the boy which 
way to turn ; or when he came to a gate, would say, • Boy^ 
open that gate.' He could walk about his plantation ; go 
to what room of his house he pleased, or to any desk or 
chest he pleased. He said he could count money by the 
feeling. He is of a family who generally lose their eye 
sight when they arrive at the age of twenty or twenty-two, 
I think he is a precious happy soul, and can praise and bless 
God for spiritual eye sight. His wife is as blind spiritually 
as he is literaIly.' , 

The following narrative is no less edifying and inte- 
resting : " I preached in Hopkins's Neck to many precious 
souls and was much quickened among them. After 
preaching, I visited a beautiful damsel, about the age of 
fourteen, the only child of her tender father. She ap- 
peared to be in a deep decay, and there was little expec- 
tation of her staying in this world much longer. Her 
mother, a few months ago, went out of the world triumph- 
ing in the faith, and is now, no doubt, praising God in 
heaven. God refreshed my soul abundantly while pray- 
ing for this damsel. After prayer, I asked her if she saw 
her way clear to the heavenly world ? 4 Blessed be God !' 
said she, 4 1 do.' I asked her if she was willing to die. 
8 1 do not,' said she, 6 wish to remain here any longer.' I 
asked her if she was prepared to die : she replied, ' God 
loves me, and I love him: I know,' said she, 'that he 
loves me.' I said, do you know your sins forgiven? ( l 
have not,' said she, 1 the witness ; but I believe God will 
give it me before he takes me hence,' Said I, jvere yon 



144 



LIFE OF THE 



willing to die when you were first taken ill V She replied, 
'No.' I asked her why? 4 Because I was a sinner. I 
knew God was angry with me. I was under distress of 
soul, but the Lord has turned his anger away.' How did 
you feel, said I, in time of prayer ? ' My soul,' said she, 
' was happy V I had the witness that she was a favourite 
of Heaven. Child, said I, believe that God loves you ; 
look to him now for a witness of his favour. ' I am look- 
ing/ said she, ( for a bright witness ; and I believe God 
will give it to me.' I left her : my heart was full of love, 
hoping one day to meet her in glory. Her father accom- 
panied me nearly a mile. I asked him if she had been 
under serious impressions any time before she was taken 
sick. He said from the time that preaching was first esta- 
blished in the neighbourhood, she had had a great love 
for the way, and wanted to join the society; but the 
preachers thought she was rather young : but, said he, 
since her sickness she has gone through deep distress." 

Among other blessed effects of the Methodist ministry , 
was the conversion of many of the coloured people in that 
part of the country, both among the slaves, and those that 
were free. These people, who seem destined by an all- 
wise, but inscrutable Providence, to suffer many privations 
in this world, in consequence of the forced and cruel man- 
ner in which they had been removed from their own 
country, as well as the manner in which most of them 
were treated here, had been hitherto destitute of spiritual 
instruction, and generally treated as if they had no souls 
either to save or lose. To them particular attention was 
paid by the Methodist preachers. 

Such, however, was their situation, that they could not 
assemble at the usual hours for preaching. To meet their 
case, therefore, appointments were made especially for 
their benefit. This, in many instances, made double work 
for the preachers. Frequently after preaching to the 
white people, they had to meet the coloured population. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



145 



This Mr. Garrettson often did. On one of these occasions 
he says, " This night my soul was transported with joy 
when meeting the black class, a company of humble, happy 
souls. And a little below he says, " for these last five days 
I have been employed in preaching every day, and in 
meeting several coloured classes, and was much comforted 
among them."* Such, indeed, is the state of many of 
those ill fated people. 

What can more strongly attest the truth, and may we not 
say the divinity of the gospel, than the conversion of some 
of its warmest opposers ? Hence the conversion of St. Paul 
has been ever considered an irrefragable argument in fa- 
vour of the power and truth of the gospel of Christ. Many 
similar instances are recorded in the history of the church, 

* It may not be amiss to observe here, that from the beginning 
of the Methodist ministry in this country, particular attention has 
been paid to these depressed people. And who knows but that the 
entrance of the gospel among them in this way may not be a pre- 
lude to the entire conversion of the African race, not only those 
who inhabit this country, but even those who remain in their native 
land! Though some who are either wilfully blind, or inexcusably 
inattentive to the history of events, seem to think, and even to af= 
firm that these people have been entirely overlooked by the Chris- 
tian community until quite recently, it is well known to others, that 
ever since Methodism was planted in this country, they have been 
the special objects of its ministry ; and that the Methodists have 
had, since the year 1787, when the late Dr. Coke first landed in the 
Island of Antigua, flourishing missions in nearly all the West India 
Islands; and that at this time they number nearly 30,000; and 
that in these United States there are about 60,000 of the coloured 
population members of our church, besides a number, no doubt truly 
pious, who have separated from us, and set up for themselves. 

The Wesleyan Methodists have also established several missions 
in Africa. These, together with the infant colony now rising into 
notice under the fostering care of the American Colonization So- 
ciety, give a fair promise of the future reformation of the vast con- 
tinent of Africa to the principles of Christianity. May not these 
things be reckoned among the " signs of the times," which indicate 
the near approach of that day, " when the knowledge of the Lord 
shall cover the earth, as the waters do the sea?"-— Ed. 



146 



LIFE OF THE 



and not a few in the journal of Mr. Garrettson. At the 
time we are now speaking of, he says, " I was rejoiced to 
converse with one who, a few weeks since, was a great 
enemy to religion, but has now a broken heart." 

Mr. Garrettson continued his labours in these parts of 
the country among his old friends with various success, 
and oftentimes exposed to much fatigue and suffering, 
until September 3, when he was preparing to take his de- 
parture for Charleston, S. C, but was arrested in his pro- 
gress by the arrival of Dr. Coke, who was empowered by 
Mr. Wesley to organize the Methodist societies in this 
country into a separate and independent church. On this 
event he makes the following reflections : " In the even- 
ing news came to my room that Dr. Coke had arrived. I 
felt a spirit of rejoicing, and hastened down stairs to 
receive him. I was somewhat surprised when Mr. Wes- 
ley's plan of ordination was opened to me, and determined 
to sit in silence. I thought it expedient to return with 
him to a quarterly meeting held in Kent county, where I 
expected to meet Mr. Asbury, and a number of the preach- 
ers. About fifteen met in conference, and it was thought 
expedient to call a general conference at Baltimore ; and 
that I should decline my expedition to Charleston. I was 
accordingly appointed to go and call a conference. I sat 
out for Virginia and Carolina, and a tedious journey I had. 
My dear Master enabled me to ride about twelve hundred 
miles in about six weeks ; and preach going and coming 
constantly. The conference began on Christmas day/' 

Dr. Coke in his journal alluding to the same event, says, 
" Here I met with an excellent young man, Freeborn Gar- 
rettson, He seems to be all meekness and love, and yet 
all activity. He makes me quite ashamed, for he invaria- 
bly rises at four in the morning, and not only he, but 
several others of the preachers. Him we sent oif, like 
an arrow, from north to south, directing him to send mes- 
sengers to the right and left, and to gather all the preacher- 
together at Baltimore on Christmas eve." 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



147 



CHAPTER XI. 

State of the societies at the conclusion of the war — Destitute of 
the ordinances — Mr. Wesley solicited to supply this deficiency— 
Finally consents — Ordains Dr. Coke, who arrives in America, in 
company with Richard Whatco&t and Thomas Vasey — Christmas 
Conference — Mr Asbury ordained a superintendent, and Mr. Gar- 
rettson and others, elders — He volunteers for Nova Scotia — Pastoral 
letters — Embarks for Halifax — Stormy passage— Kindly received 
at Halifax, preaches and forms a society — Makes a tour into the 
country, and preaches with success—Account of the Allenites— = 
Letter to Mr. Wesley — Mr. Wesley's answer — Visits Liverpool- 
Society doubled by his labours — Commencement of Methodism in 
Liverpool— Visits Shelburne— Kindly treated by the rector of the 
parish — Society increases amidst opposition — Returns to Liverpool 
— Thence to Halifax — Correspondence with Mr. Wesley, Dr. Coke, 
and Bishop Asbury— Anecdotes and reflections — Leaves Nova Sco- 
tia for Boston — Origin of Methodism in Boston — Mr. Garrettson 
preaches there — Passes thence to Providence — Newport— New- 
York — Philadelphia — to Baltimore, where he attends conference, 

We come now to a very important era in the history of 
Methodism, as well as in the history of our country . After 
f v a long and severe struggle, the revolutionary war ended 
in the independence of these United States. With the 
annihilation of the political power of Great Britain over 
this country, ceased all its ecclesiastical jurisdiction. 
While, however, the contest lasted between the two coun- 
tries, the Methodist societies had continued to increase 
under the faithful labours of the preachers, Mr. Garrett- 
son and others ; but these preachers not being ordained, 
the societies had remained destitute of the ordinances, 
only so far as they received them from the hands of other 
ministers. 

This deficiency in the ministrations of the Methodist 
ministry, as has already been observed, had occasioned 
much uneasiness in the societies. From time to time, 
Mr. Wesley had been solicited to grant them relief; but 
being unwilling to disturb the order of the church to which 



246 



LIFE OF THE 



he belonged, until the independence of this country had 
been achieved, and acknowledged by the English govern- 
ment, Mr. Wesley remained deaf to their solicitations. 
This event, however, so auspicious in its consequences to 
this country, to the church, and perhaps I might add to 
ihe world at large, tended to remove all scruples from his 
mind respecting the expediency of the measure. He saw 
a large field opened for the future usefulness of a well 
organized ministry ; a ministry constituted according to 
the Scripture model. To this work, with* a view to sup- 
ply the spiritual wants of so many thousands who were 
looking to him for direction in this important affair, Mr. 
Wesley believed himself providentially called. He, there,- 
fore, with all the despatch the nature of the business 
would allow, concerted measures for the organization of 
the Methodist societies in America into a church, accord- 
ing to what he considered to be the primitive model. 

With a view to accomplish this object, Mr. Wesley first 
directed his attention to the most suitable men and means. 
Thomas Coke, LL. D., and a presbyter in the Church of 
England, had been led by a train of providential circum- 
stances to connect himself with the body of Methodist 
preachers in England, and had, for a number of years, 
been one of Mr. Wesley's most active and efficient assist- 
ants. Mr. Wesley had received unequivocal proofs of his 
entire devotedness to the cause of his divine Master, of 
his hearty concurrence in the general plans of usefulness 
to the souls of men ; and of his firm attachment to the 
doctrines and discipline of the Methodist societies. To 
him, therefore, Mr. Wesley directed his attention as the 
most suitable person to organize the societies in this coun- 
try into a church, and to be the instrument of furnishing 
it with the ordinances of the gospel. Accordingly, being 
assisted by other presbyters of the Church of England, on 
the 2d day of September, 17S4, Mr. Wesley set apart Dr. 
Coke as a superintendent of the Methodist societies in 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



149 



America, and gave him letters of ordination. At the same 
time Mr. Wesley, with the assistance of Dr. Coke and Mr, 
Creighton, another presbyter of the Church of England, 
ordained Messrs. Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey, 
who had volunteered their services for America, as pres- 
byters, and recommended them to the brethren in this 
country. They accordingly accompanied Dr. Coke, who 
left England in the month of September, 1784, and arrived 
in this country, at New-York, on the third of November 
following. 

It is not my intention to enter into a detailed account 
of the transactions of this period. Those who wish for 
such an account, and for the arguments in vindication of 
the conduct of Mr. Wesley, Dr. Coke, and Mr. Asbury, 
in these important matters, may consult Moore's Life of the 
Messrs. Wesley, Drew's Life of Dr. Coke, Lee's History 
of the Methodists, Vindication of Methodist Episcopacy, 
and the Defence of our Fathers. 

We have already seen the manner in which Mr. Gar- 
rettson was employed in calling the preachers together, 
and the opinion expressed by Dr. Coke of his diligence 
and activity, his meekness and love. The preachers, 
about sixty in number, assembled in Baltimore, Decem- 
ber 25th, 1784, and held what has been designated the 
" Christmas conference." The plan recommended by Mr. 
Wesley was unanimously approved of by the preachers 
present ; and on the 27th of the same month, Mr. Francis 
Asbury, according to the appointment of Mr. Wesley and 
the unanimous vote of the conference, was consecrated by 
Dr. Coke, assisted by Mr. Otterbine, a German minister, 
of undoubted piety, and for whom Mr. Asbury entertained 
an affectionate and high regard, and other elders, to the 
office of a superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. According to Mr. Lee's History of the Method- 
ists, there were thirteen elected to the office of elders, 
eleven of whom only were ordained at the conference. 

14 



150 



LIFE OF THE 



Among those consecrated to this office was the subject of 
this memoir. 

At the conclusion of the revolutionary war, a number 
of persons who still retained their attachment to the Bri- 
tish government, removed to the province of Nova Scotia. 
Among these emigrants there were some who had been 
members of the Methodist society in this country ; others 
had emigrated from Europe. These were as sheep with- 
out a shepherd. They therefore expressed a strong desire 
to have Methodist missionaries sent among them. As 
their circumstances and wishes became known to Dr, 
Coke, he deeply interested himself in their behalf, and 
contemplated making them a visit, but was providentially 
disappointed by a violent storm, which finally compelled 
the captain, with whom the Doctor sailed, to seek a shelter 
in one of the West India islands. At this conference, 
therefore, through his solicitations, Mr. Garrettson volun- 
teered his services for Nova Scotia. While preparing for 
this enterprise, he wrote the following letters, one of which 
appears to be addressed to members of some former charge, 
and the other to a respected friend : 

" My dearly beloved friends and brethren, 

" Peace and consolation attend you for ever, through 
Jesus Christ, Amen ! I had great expectation of paying 
you a visit before I took my departure to some other quar- 
ter of my Master's vineyard ; but had not had an opportu- 
nity, being confined to other places. I send this epistle, 
hoping it will, in some sense, supply ray lack of service. 
Through the mercy of our God I enjoy health of body ; 
and blessed be his dear name, I think my love and zeal 
for his glory are as great as ever ; desiring to spend, and be 
spent in the best of causes, not counting my life dear, so 
I can win souls, and at last stand blameless before the 
throne of my God, not having on my own righteousness, 
but a righteousness through the faith of the Son of God. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



151 



1 My dearly beloved friends, you very well know what 
you were before the great Shepherd and Bishop of your 
souls gave me entrance among you: this I can say, my 
trials were great and manifold ; yet our great Master stood 
by me. You know very well I was among you with tears 
and fasting; labouring both night and day, and glory be 
to God, I hope not altogether in vain. 'Ye were once 
darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord ; walk as chil- 
dren of the light.' When I shall be among you again, I 
know no£, being straitened between two, whether to go 
out into the wilderness, or to tarry with the children of the 
kingdom. It is the most pleasing to nature to tarry, but 
having a great sense of the deplorable condition thousands 
of souls are in, I feel a willingness to tread unbeaten paths 
in the wilderness, and call home hundreds and thousands 
of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who now (as you 
once did) sit in darkness, that we all may be of one fold, 
feeding in one pasture, under one great Shepherd. I long 
to see the happy time, when the knowledge of God shall 
cover the earth. Who among you will join, faithfully 
join, to pull down the kingdom of the devil ? Shall I be so 
happy as to meet you all in glory 1 

" I shall speak my mind freely, though at a distance: 
when I was with you last, 1 was afraid that some of you 
were waxing cold, and that others were too much glued 
to the world. O! my friends, better you had never heard 
the glad sound of the gospel — better you had never been 
born, than in the midst of such privileges to be lost ! O 
what a cutting sight, should I see any of you at the left 
hand, with whom I have taken sweet counsel. May Jeho- 
vah for his mercy's sake forbid it ! I now come to speak 
of great matters : — \ As you have received Christ Jesus the 
Lord, so walk you in him.' How was Christ received 1 
not in neglect of prayer, not in trifling, not in associating 
with the wicked,, not in worldly mindedness, nor in neglect 
of any of the means of grace ; but in an earnest, fervent. 



152 



LIFE OF THE 



Iiumble, holy looking to God by faith. This is the way 
you are to walk m him ; to be as much engaged for per- 
fect love, as ever you were for justifying faith. What is 
the reason we are not more holy ? Why do we not walk 
more closely with God, and live more in heaven? Why 
are we not more dead to the world ? Because we are en- 
thusiasts, looking for the end, without using the means 
O ! that you may stir up the gift of God by earnestly 
groaning, both day and night, for full redemption in the 
blood of Jesus : look for the*blessing now ; this moment 
look up by faith. You must feel the need of it ; then, and 
not till then, will you seek it with all your powers. O that 
you may receive it now, while these lines are read to you. 
By and by, our sabbath opportunities, praying oppor- 
tunities, preaching opportunities, hearing opportunities, 
and class meeting opportunities, will all be passed away s 
the harvest shortly will be ripe, Christ will appear, his 
labourers will be called home, and each of us will have to 
give an account of his stewardship. O what a dismal day 
it will be to the impenitent ; to swearers, drunkards, liars, 
defrauders, the worldly minded, to all those that have been 
covered with a web of their own weaving, and particularly 
to hypocrites aud backsliders. The backslider may then 
say, * Once I went in and out with the people of God^ 
tasted his goodness, and felt his power ; but wretched me, 
I departed from his holy commands, pierced the Saviour 
afresh, yea, I wounded his cause, by stabbing him in the 
house of his friends ; and now an eternal storm must for 
ever beat upon my guilty soul.' O my God ! who can bear 
the thought. While I am writing, the worth of your souls 
lies near my heart, and blessed be God, I feel a sense of 
his dying, forgiving love to my own soul. 

" I shall now close with an address to you in the seve- 
ral stations you occupy in the church of God. Some of 
you God has set apart to speak in his name : O that you 
may do it faithfully. To the leaders I would say, Keep the 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 



153 



life and power of God in your souls, that your prayers and 
admonitions may have the happy effect of kindling all 
around you the flames of holy, pure love : then will you 
long for your class day to come. The private members I 
would enjoin to love each other, and to bear each other's 
burdens: be watchful, sober; train up your children in 
the fear of God, and be as burning lights to all around you : 
then will you force the heathen world to say, ' See how 
these Christians love one another.' You that are young 
men and women, be sober minded, and be not unequally 
yoked together with unbelievers, considering that light 
has no communion with darkness, or Christ with BeliaL 
I earnestly exhort you all to receive with kindness, and 
esteem highly, those who labour among you in word and 
doctrine; they watch for your souls, as they that must 
give an account, that they may do it with joy. God has 
already in his wisdom seen fit to remove some from among 
you into eternity, i hope, to surround his glorious throne. 

" I now commend you to the fatherly goodness of Jeho- 
vah, praying and beseeching him to keep you all by the 
power of his Spirit, that if I never enjoy your company 
here, I may eternally enjoy it in heaven. 

" I desire the prayers of all my dear friends and chil- 
dren, that I may stand fast in the faith, and finish my 
course with comfort : may we ail meet to be crowned with 
an eternal crown. Friends meet and part here, but there 
we shall meet never to part more. Our sorrows will be 
wiped away ; the wicked will cease from troubling, and 
our weary souls will for ever be at rest ; to which happy 
place may God in his infinite mercy grant to bring us all, 
for the sake of his dear Son. Amen. 

" I remain your sincere, though unworthy servant, in 
the bonds of the peaceful gospel of Christ, 

" F. Garrettson, 

:t An epistle to all the brethren on the sea side. Care of 
brother John Coe— to be read." 

14* 



154 



LIFE OF THE 



" Dear Brother , 

" God in his wisdom has altered my station from the 
south to the north, and I am now on my way as far as 
Mount Holly. There seems to be a loud call for the gos- 
pel in Halifax, Shelburn, and many other places in Nova 
Scotia. I am willing, and want to go in the power of the 
blessed Spirit. I hope I shall have an interest in the 
prayers of all my dear friends. I shall never forget you 
for the acts of kindness you have showed. Lord grant 
you may ever continue an humble, zealous follower of the 
Lamb, that I may one day meet you in glory everlasting. 

" Blessed be God, my mind is sweetly J^^^tat in the 
work of the ministry, and I hope I shal£ llle and 

mean in my own eyes, and that I may evefe^ » i§higher 
and higher in the divine image. Brother VC. jWms me 
that the work seems still to prosper, which rejoices my 
heart. O that Jesus may still go on in the power of hi& 
Spirit, Give my kind love to sister Hopper, and to all inquir- 
ing friends. I hope you will write to me often : direct to 
Halifax. I am more and more convinced that our new 
plan is of God. I hope and trust the Lord is about to raise 
irp a glorious church. 

" I commend you to Jesus, trusting you will be faithful 
unto death. In great love believe me 

41 Your friend, 

" F. Garrettson." 

About the middle of February, in company with Mr, 
James O. Cromwell, Mr. Garrettson embarked for Halifax 
in Nova Scotia. They had a very tedious voyage, suffer- 
ing much from cold and wet, having in a small vessel, 
deeply loaded, encountered a severe storm. "I never,' 
says he, " saw so dismal a time before ; but through the 
amazing goodness of God, we were brought safely to 
Halifax, and were very kindly received by a Mr. March* 
ington, a true friend to the gospel." Through the ex- 
ertions of this pious gentleman, a convenient place was 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



155 



fitted up for preaching, and in a short time Mr. Garrettsoii 
united a few serious persons together in a class. 

Shortly after his arrival, he wrote the following letter to 
Dr. Coke :— 

"Halifax, 1785. 

" Rev. and dear sir, — After a stormy and dangerous 
passage of thirteen days, we arrived safely, at Halifax, 
where we met with a kind reception from Mr. Marchington, 
and a few other poor sheep in the wilderness. As yet I 
do not know as much of the country, or the state of affairs, 

I 1 wrtljr «hall, God being my helper. 

" A fe • r iw€ill «ftt sail for Shelburn. 

Broth«H ton baa bured a house at ten dollars a 

month, contain about three hundred souls. I 

have pit re s< rmons. The number has increased 

so that we no . tilled. I cannot 

speak of any visible good, more thafi lb t they seem to 
hear with attention and solemnity, and I have joined a 
society of seven or eight members. Shortly after I came 
to town, I waited on the old rector. 4 Sir,' said he, 4 you 
are on a blessed errand ; I will do what I can in assisting 
you. I desire to see the gospel spread.' 

" The next day I waited on his excellency, the governor, 
accompanied by Mr. Marchington. I found him very 
accessible. After telling him my business, from whence 
T was, and by whom I was sent : 4 Mr. Wesley,' said he, 4 is 
a good man — a very good man. How long do you pur- 
pose to stay V I told him twelve months, or two years. 4 1 
am glad you called upon me : you have my approbation, 
and whenever you call for my assistance, if I can help 
you I will. 5 I could but humbly thank him. 

44 God willing, on Monday next I purpose to take a tour 
through the country, to collect, if possible, the sheep so 
widely scattered. I believe there are many precious souls 
who desire to hear us. I am well assured we shall have- 
hard work this year : but who would not labour, and suffer 



156 



LIFE OF THE 



in so good a cause. I bless God for health, and as great 
a desire as ever to do his blessed will, and spend and be 
spent in the best of causes. We shall, as the people are 
poor, do little in the sale of books. Indeed I expect we 
shall be under a necessity of giving some of the small tracts 
away. The travelling here is extremely expensive. The 
packet has no less than four or five dollars for carrying a 
person from Halifax to Shelburn, and as much to Anna- 
polis or St. John's Town : besides long journeys by land 
to the different towns and settlements. I am fully per- 
suaded that our voyage to this part of the world is of God ; 
the very time when preachers of our order ought to have 
come. But if possible we must be assisted, for our preach* 
ers are left without horses, and but four pounds a piece. 
Next year I trust the people will be able to support the 
gospel. When I am more acquainted with the country, 
I shall send on another letter to conference. By the grace 
of God I shall do all that lies in my power to promote the 
Redeemer's kingdom 

" Dear sir, I remain your affectionate friend and brother . 

" F. Garrettson. 

" To the Rev. Dr. Coke." 

In another letter he says, " The secretary sent for 
me, to know whether it would not be expedient for me 
to take the oath of allegiance to his majesty ; but on my 
objecting to it, and stating my reasons for so doing, he told 
me there was not the least necessity : he also told me if 
there should happen any disorders in our meeting, to 
apply to a magistrate, and I should find favour. So far is 
well, is it not ? My congregation has been increasing ever 
since I came ; so that on the sabbath evenings many return 
home for want of room in the house. The last week night 
I preached, the house was nearly full. For two nights we 
had a little disturbance. On one night the stones flew, 
and one stone of nearly a pound weight was levelled at me. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



157 



but missed its aim, and struck out two panes of glass near 
my head. This is but trifling, if I can win souls to Jesus.'' 

After continuing a short time in Halifax, during which 
he preached almost every night in the week, and three 
times on the Lord's day, in the latter part of March he se: 
out on a tour through the country. " I have," says he ? 
"travelled, though the snow was deep, about three hun- 
dred miles in two weeks, and preached twenty sermons 
to many attentive hearers." Among others, he found 
some old members of society, who had emigrated from 
Europe, and who rejoiced much to hear from his lips the 
same truths they formerly had heard in their own country, 
Indeed, some time prior to this, Mr. William Black, a 
native of Yorkshire, who had been converted to God, had 
gone to that province, and had been instrumental in dif- 
fusing gospel light and truth among the people in New 
Brunswick, and some other places. On the arrival of Mi\ 
Garrettson, Mr. Black and those who were associated with 
him were much encouraged. 

In this country Mr. Garrettson preached the word with 
a success similar to what had attended his evangelical la- 
bours in the United States. Among others who had begun 
to " taste of the good word of God," he found a society of 
coloured people, with whom he was much comforted, whom 
he endeavoured to bring into gospel order, by forming sixty 
of them into a class, administering baptism to nineteen 
and the Lord's supper to about forty, most of whom he 
trusted loved God and one another. 

It is not one of the least perplexing difficulties connected 
with ministerial duty, to be under the necessity of either 
disentangling the sophistries of error, or of suffering vain 
and deluded mortals to remain under the influence of their 
fatal delusion. It is more especially so, when this error 
is nourished and strengthened by pride and self conceit- 
vices not uncommonly united, — and adhered to with all the 
tenacity which ignorance and bigotry inspire. To remain 



I5S 



LIFE OF THE 



silent under such circumstances, betrays & want of zeal 
in the cause of truth, and an indifference to the salvation 
of souls. To undertake to unravel the knotty threads of 
error is often a task no less difficult and irksome to our- 
selves, than it is offensive to those whom we labour " to 
convert from the error of their ways." 

These remarks were suggested by the following account 
which Mr. Garrettson has recorded respecting a people he 
found in Nova Scotia, who seem to have adopted all the 
offensive peculiarities of Calvinism, called Allenites, one 
Mr. Allen being their principal leader. Though he might 
have been a good man, it is certain that some parts of his 
doctrine must have had a very pernicious -influence. 
" Some of them," says Mr Garrettson, " seem to have the 
fear of God ; but in general they are as deluded a people 
as I ever saw. Almost all of them preach in public. I 
was conversing with one who seems to be a principal 
person among them. She said she believed death would 
slay more sins for her than were ever destroyed before, 
( As for sin,' said she, 4 it cannot hurt me : not even adul- 
tery, murder, swearing, drunkenness, nor any other sin. 
can break the union between me and Christ.' They have 
passed judgment upon us, that we are neither Christians, 
nor called to preach. 

Cf Thursday I preached at Mr. Wood worth's, to a crowded 
audience. A little before preaching time, two old Calvin- 
ists came into my room to have a conversation with me 
before preaching. ( I understand,' said one of them, ' that 
you hold with falling from grace : I heard it, but did not 
know how to believe it, and should be glad to know whether 
you do deny the perseverance of the saints?' I answered, 
I do not, for my desire is that they should persevere : I do 
not hold with man's persevering in wickedness, neither do 
I believe that a man can have grace while he lives in sin. 
Let us take the Bible, and see what is said there : I read 
part of the 15th of John, and parts of several chapters in 
Hebrews. Romans, and Peter. Now, said I, this is the 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



159 



language of many other passages. We have no promise 
tor any but such as do persevere to the end, and we have 
had many unhappy instances of men running well for a 
time, and then turning back : read the 18th chapter of 
Ezekiel. Now what harm can there be in enforcing our 
Lord's, the prophets', and the apostles' exhortation? ' Very 
good,' said he. Why should we do it if there was no dan- 
ger ? and what harm can there be in the doctrine ; sup- 
pose you are a Christian, and your neighbour is one also s 
you believe in the unconditional perseverance of saints ; 
he in the conditional : who, sir, is the safest ? If you are 
Yight, surely he cannot fall. ' I never,' said he, * saw so 
much in it before.' They stayed to hear the sermon, and 
afterwards one said, 1 1 never heard these men before, but 
they are better than I thought.' 

" Friday morning I set out for Granville. I had not got 
far, before a man came running out. ' Sir,' said he, * I 
like part of your doctrine well, but part I do not like, 5 
What part don't you like ? ' You say, sir, that a saint may 
fall.' Will you answer me one question ? said I. Do you 
know that you were ever converted? 'I do,' said he, 
Pray tell me how matters are at present between God and 
your soul ? 4 Why,' said he, ' it is a winter state.' But, 
said I, are you not now living in open sin against God? 
He paused awhile. I ask, said I, in the fear of God, and 
desire an answer in truth. 1 1 confess,' said he, c I am 
living in sin.' And yet you do not believe in falling from 
grace ! I believe it because you have fallen. This is what 
you call a winter state ! I call it lying in the arms of the 
wicked one, and you may talk as you will about your past 
experience, but I would not give a straw for your chance 
of heaven, if you die in this state. You are reconciling 
Christ and Belial together. ' O,' said he, <I shall be 
raised up at the last day.' You will, said I ; but, unless 
you repent, it will be to be cast into the lake of fire. He 
^eemed much affected and left me, 



LIFE OF THE 



" January 19th, I preached opposite Granville to a num- 
ber of serious hearers, and was invited home to dinner by 
an old gentleman, who, soon after we were seated at table y 
said, 1 1 understand you preach perfection. 5 I do, said I. 
and have done so for a number of years ; and shall do so 
as long as I find the doctrine in the Bible. 4 Why, sir,' 
said he, i Paul was not perfect, he complains of a thorn in 
the side/ The heart is the place for sin, said I, and not 
the side. He then mentioned several other passages of 
Scripture which he thought were opposed to holiness of 
heart, which I explained to him. Pray, said I, let us come 
to the point at once. Do you believe that an unholy 
creature can enter into heaven ? 1 No.' Pray when is sin 
to be destroyed? 1 At death.' You must then hold with 
death as being part of a Saviour, or with a purgatory after 
death, or you must come to perfection on this side the 
grave. He sat amazed, and seemed to give up the argu- 
ment. We rose from the table : I went to prayer, then 
went on my journey and preached at six o'clock in the 
court house. When I left the old man, he desired me to 
make his house my home. I left Fletcher's Checks with 
him. Shortly after I received a few lines from him to this 
effect : — 1 1 believe you to be a servant of God. I hope 
the Lord will bless you, and those that sent you here. I 
want to see you at my house at every opportunity. I thank 
you for the book. 5 55 

Mr. Garrettson, in another place, gives the following 
summary of their leading absurdities: — " 1. They think 
they can tell whether a person is a Christian at first sight. 

2. They say that we are leading people blindfolded to hell. 

3, They are, they say, as sure of heaven, as if they were 
already there, for sin cannot hurt them." " I never met with 
such a people in my life. There are about fifty of them 
in Liverpool." 

From the date of the following letter, found among his 
papers, it must have been written about this time. It 



REV. F. GARKETTSON. 



161 



^eems to contain a short account of his experience and 
labours up to that time. 

AN UNFINISHED LETTER TO MR. WESLEY. 

" Halifax, April 20th, 1785. 
u Rev. and dear Sir, — Known to me, yet unknown, I 
have many things to write, but am afraid of burdening 
you, or of taking up your precious time, which I "believe 
you are redeeming moment by moment. I bless God that 
I ever heard of your name, or read your numerous works. 
Close doctrine and discipline I dearly love. This spring 
is fourteen years since T was powerfully convinced with- 
out the use of human means. The doctrine of the first 
Methodist preacher I ever heard was as precious ointment 
to my poor wounded soul. I was sure he was a servant 
of the living God. I have been travelling in your con- 
nexion nine years, during which time (I desire to write it 
with humility) God has granted me health, so that I have 
seldom missed preaching the whole of that time. My lot 
has mostly been cast in new places, to form circuits, which 
much exposed me to persecution. Once I was imprisoned ; 
twice beaten ; left on the high way speechless and sense- 
less ; (I must have gone into a world of spirits, had not 
God in mercy sent a good Samaritan that bled, and took 
me to a friend's house ;) once shot at ; guns and pistols 
presented at my breast; once delivered from an armed 
mob, in the dead time of night, on the high way, by a 
surprising flash of lightning ; surrounded frequently by 
mobs ; stoned frequently ; I have had to escape for my 
life at dead time of night. O ! shall I ever forget the 
Divine hand which has supported me. O that I could love 
my God more, and serve him with a more perfect heart. 
It was three years from my conviction, before I was brought 
through the pangs of the new birth. Eight months elapsed 
after I was called to preach, before I was willing to leave my 
all and go out. I wanted to live in retirement, and had 

15 



162 



LIFE OF THE 



almost got my own consent to sell what I had in the world, 
and retire to a cell. God withdrew himself from me. I 
was very near desperation, for I was travelling, as it were, 
alone. I betook myself to my room, except when I was 
wandering through the woods and fields, till I was worn 
away to a skeleton ; and all this time I was kept from 
unbosoming myself to the lovers of Jesus. Strong im- 
pressions I had to go forth in Jehovah's name to preach 
the gospel. When I thought of it, I was pained to the 
very heart : it seemed like death, so great was the sense 
I had of my weakness and ignorance. By day I was 
drawn out in the study of the Holy Scriptures, and in the 
night season, when fast asleep, preaching aloud, till I have 
been as wet with sweat, as if dipped in a river. O ! what 
a precious time I had when I gave up my own, to the will 
of God. I saw there was no other way for me to be saved. 
I was determined, if required, to go to the ends of the 
earth ; yea, I promised the Lord if he would stand by 
me, and required it, I would go to the very mouth of hell. 
Blessed be God, he has been very kind and good to me 
ever since. 

" The second year I travelled, I was powerfully con- 
vinced of the necessity of holiness. For a considerable 
time I waded through deep, but sweet distress. I had a 
discovery of the purity of the law, and the impurity of my 
own heart : being conscious it was my privilege to become 
pure in heart, I determined not to stop short of it. Sen- 
sible I was it came by faith. I was under deep exercises 
to preach no more, till I received that blessing. There 
was a time when I had a greater nearness to God, but I 
did not receive the witness till a twelve-month afterwards. 

" F. Garrettson." 

Soon after writing the above, it seems he received the 
following from Mr. Wesley, which will show in what 
high estimation he was held by that eminentlv useful man 
of God :— 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



163 



" Dublin, June 26, 1785. 
li My dear brother, — Dr. Coke gives some account of 
you in his journal, so that although I have not seen you, 
I am not a stranger to your character. By all means send 
me, when you have opportunity, a more particular account 
of your experience and travels. It is no way improbable 
that God may find out a way for you to visit England, and 
it may be the means of your receiving more strength, as 
well as more light. It is a very desirable thing that the 
children of God should communicate their experience to 
each other ; and it is generally most profitable when they 
can do it face to face. Till Providence opens a way for 
you to see Europe, do all you can for a good Master in 
America. 

" I am glad brother Cromwell and you have undertaken 
that labour of love, the visiting Nova Scotia, and doubt 
not but you act in full concert with the little handful who 
were almost alone till you came. It will be the wisest way 
to make all those who desire to join together, thoroughly 
acquainted with the whole Methodist plan, and to accustom 
them, from the very beginning, to the accurate observance 
of all our rules. Let none of them rest in being half 
Christians. Whatever they do, let them do it with their 
might, and it will be well, as soon as any of them find 
peace with God, to exhort them to go on to perfection. 
The more explicitly and strongly you press all believers to 
aspire after full sanctification as attainable now by simple 
faith, the more the whole work of God will prosper. 

"I do not expect any great matters from the bishop 
I doubt his eye is not single, and if it be not, he will do 
little good to you, or any one else. It may be a comfort 
to you that you have no need of him : you want nothing 
which he can give. 

" It is a noble proposal of brother Marchington ; but I 
doubt it will not take place. You do not know the state 
of the English Methodists. They do not roll in money 



164 



LIFE OF THE 



like many of the American Methodists. -It is with the 
utmost difficulty that we can raise five or six hundred 
pounds a year to supply our contingent expenses, so that 
it is entirely impracticable to raise five hundred pounds 
among them to build houses in America. It is true they 
might do much ; but it is a sad observation, they that have 
most money have usually least grace. The peace of God 
be with all your spirits. 

" I am your affectionate friend and brother, 

" J. Wesley/' 

After visiting Uigby, and forming a small society, or 
Tuesday, July 26th, he set sail for Liverpool ; but in con- 
sequence of head winds, he did not reach his place oi 
destination until Friday morning. Here he preached on 
the same evening in the Congregational meeting house, 
and again on Saturday, with much freedom to a people 
manifesting great willingness to hear the word. He con- 
tinued in Liverpool about four weeks, constantly preach- 
ing and visiting from house to house, and many hearts 
were powerfully touched under the word, so that when he 
took his leave, the society had doubled its number, in- 
creasing from twenty to forty members, several of whom 
were savingly converted to God. 

In the month of August, Mr. Garrettson left Liverpool 
for Shelburn ; and after a passagerof forty-eight hours, he 
arrived safely, and found a society of sixteen members. 
Though at the commencement of his preaching in She!- 
burn, he had only about fifty hearers, his congregation 
soon increased, so that their little chapel would not con- 
tain them all. Seeing the eagerness of the people to hear. 

one of the rectors of the parish, a Mr. W , gave him 

the use of his pulpit, which he occupied until some of the 
vestry, exeited to opposition by witnessing the manifest 
displays of awakening power under the preaching of Mr 
Garrettson^ interposed their authority, and he silentk 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



165 



withdrew from the church, and immediately adopted means 
for enlarging their own house of worship : in the mean 
time he thanked the rector for his kindness, who very 
reluctantly acceded to the wishes of his vestry in their 
opposition to Mr. Garrettson. 

Mr. Garrettson gives the following account of the com- 
mencement of Methodism in Liverpool. " Captain D., 
since gone to heaven, some time before any of us came to 
the place, met with Mr. Wesley's tract called The Charac- 
ter of a Methodist, and having a great desire excited to 
hear one of the Methodist preachers, he sent to Shelburn, 
and requested brother John Mann to visit them. Shortly 
after, Mr. Mann paid them a visit, and many of the peo- 
ple heard him gladly, though much opposed by the Allen- 
ites before mentioned. As he went one Lord's day to the 
meeting house to preach, a party of these zealous disciples 

were determined, if possible, to prevent it. Colonel P f 

a very mild man, and a friend to all religious people, en- 
deavoured calmly to reason with them, but to little purpose, 
until another magistrate spoke more authoritatively, which 
induced them to relinguish their design, and to permit 
Mr. Mann peaceably to proceed. From open opposition 
they resorted to secret insinuations, with a view to preju- 
dice the people against us." 

Though it had been only eight years since they began 
building the town of Shelburn, there were, on the arrival 
of Mr. Garrettson, about ten thousand inhabitants, mostly 
refugees — so rapidly had the town increased. 

He remained about six weeks in this place, occasionally 
visiting some adjacent villages, during which time ho 
received one hundred and fifty members into the society. 
It was not all fair weather, however, while he was here 
He says he was stoned, had rotten eggs thrown at him* 
and when he embarked for Liverpool, the captain of a 
man of war cried out, " Hail for the Methodist preacher V 
and soon a gun was fired, which obliged them to lower sail . 

15* 



166 



LIFE OF THE 



and he had to submit to have his trunk examined, but was 
dismissed with no other annoyance than the sound of some 
blasphemous oaths from the sailors. " Blessed be God," 
says he, " they had not power to hurt me." After a stormy- 
passage he arrived at Liverpool. Here he remained two 
weeks, preaching the word with much assurance and com- 
fort. From thence he embarked for Halifax, and found 
the society he had left in peace. He remained in ihte 
place until the first day of February, during which time 
he had the happiness of receiving into society, as a broken- 
hearted penitent, a person who before had been famous 
for pouring contempt upon religion. He also visited the 
towns of Horton and Cornwallis, and preached with great 
freedom, evenings, as well as in the day time. To be 
idle, while he beheld so many precious souls ff in the gall 
of bitterness and bonds of iniquity," he could not. We 
therefore find him braving the storms and tempests, from 
one place to another, travelling on foot through snow and 
mud, where the roads were too bad to admit his travelling 
on horseback, that he might, as widely as possible, extend 
the empire of his divine Lord and Master. 

Mr. Garrettson, in his semi-centennial sermon preached 
and published at the request of the New- York conference, 
speaking of his travels in Nova Scotia, says, " I traversed 
the mountains and valleys, frequently on foot, with my 
knapsack on my back, guided by Indian paths in the wil- 
derness, when it was not expedient to take a horse ; and 
I had often to wade through morasses half leg deep in mud 
and water, frequently satisfying my hunger with a piece of 
bread and pork from my knapsack, quenching my thirst 
from a brook, and resting my weary limbs on the leaves 
of the trees. Thanks be to God ! he compensated me for 
all my toil, for many precious souls were awakened and 
converted to God." 

To these privations, labours, and sufferings, he volun- 
tarily submitted. For however truly it may be said of 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



167 



some, that their circumstances in life might have com- 
pelled them to equal, or even greater hardships in another 
calling, that they might secure a scanty maintenance, this 
cannot be said of Mr. Garrettson. His patrimonial estate 
was amply sufficient to yield him a comfortable mainte- 
nance, simply by his exercising over it a prudental super- 
intendence. But being called out from a sense of duty to 
his God and his fellow men, he willingly renounced the 
world " with all its pomps and vanities," and without pe- 
cuniary fee or reward, submitted to all this drudgery of 
labour, this " reproach of Christ," haviog respect solely 
unto the eternal " recompense of reward," and the salva- 
tion of sinners. 

The following letters will more fully unfold the state 
and prospects of the work in which Mr. Garrettson was 
engaged in Nova Scotia, as well as the difficulties with 
which he had to contend. Those sent to him by Mr. 
Wesley are also inserted, because every thing coming from 
a man so eminently useful is very interesting : they serve 
moreover to explain some allusions in the letters of Mr, 
Garrettson, as well as to exhibit the deep interest which 
Mr. Wesley took in every part of the work of God, how- 
ever remote from the immediate scene of his own labours, 

" Shelhurn, April 25, 1786. 

" Rev. and dear Sir,— Some weeks ago I left Halifax, 
and went to Liverpool, where the Lord is carrying on a 
blessed work : many precious souls of late have been set 
at liberty to praise a sin-pardoning God. There is a lively 
society. Allen's small party oppose us warmly. The 
greater part of the town attend our ministry, and the first 
people have joined our society. 

" A few days ago T came to this town, where I met dear 
afflicted brother Cromwell, and was glad to find him able 
to set out for Liverpool and Halifax. A negro man by 
the name of Morant, lately from England, who says he 



168 



LIFE OF THE 



was sent by lady Huntingdon, has done much hurt in soci- 
ety among the blacks at Burch town. I believe that Satan 
sent him. Before he came there was a glorious work going 
on among these poor creatures, now (brother Cromwell not 
being able to attend) there is much confusion. The devil's 
darts are sometimes turned upon his own miserable head. 

" Our chapel in Shelburn is not able to contain the 
congregation, and at present our friends are not able to 
build a larger. If I thought it right, I could wish, yea, 
beg for fifty or sixty pounds from England to promote the 
building one. Blessed be God, there are some precious 
souls here ; but I expect many will be obliged to move to 
other places for want of business. The people in Halifax 
have had very little preaching of late, at which they are 
much tried. It is impossible for us to supply half the 
places where they want us. I have written to Mr. Asbun 
for help, but with no certainty of obtaining it, as the work 
seems to be spreading among them. 

" I am an unprofitable servant, but blessed be God, the 
desire of my soul is to be instrumental in spreading the 
glorious gospel. I find a willingness to spend my all for 
God. I meet with many difficulties, but a moment's con- 
templation of the eternal world weighs down all. A man 
who labours for God in this country, needs a greater degree 
of grace, fortitude, and wisdom, than I possess. Dear sir, 
if you are disposed to send books to be given to the poor, 
or for sale, the sooner the better : let me know the condi- 
tions, and I will do the best in my power. The Saint's 
Rest and hymn books are wanted ; the small select hymn 
book would sell ; some pieces displaying the nature, man- 
ner, and doctrine of the Methodists ; your journals and 
sermons ; Mr. Walsh's Life ; dear Mr. Fletcher's works 
have been a blessing in Cornwallis and Horton. I would 
to God they could be spread all through the country. I 
wrote in a former letter for some of the new prayer books 
adapted to the kingdom. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



169 



•We have bought two horses, which will do for the 
present. In some places the people will be able to sup- 
port the gospel. In general they are poor; but in my 
opinion this country wants nothing but pure religion and 
industry to make it desirable. I have seldom seen a bet- 
ter spring in Pennsylvania or Maryland. The winter has 
been very moderate, except a few weeks. Much of the 
land is very good, and I am informed they get from twenty 
to forty bushels of grain from an acre ; and hay and vege- 
tables in great abundance. 

" I want to die to the world, and live wholly to God. 
This is the constant prayer and desire of your unworthy 
servant, 

" F. Garrettson." 

**' TO THE REV. FREEBORN GARRETTSON. 

"London, Sept. 30, 1786. 

4i My dear brother, — I trust before this comes to hand, 
you and Dr. Coke will have met and refreshed each other's 
bowels in the Lord. I can exceedingly ill spare him from 
England, as I have no clergyman capable of supplying his 
lack of service ; but I was convinced he was more wanted 
in America than in Europe. For it is impossible but 
offences will come, and of yourselves will men arise speak- 
ing perverse things, and striving to draw away disciples 
after them. It is a wonderful blessing they are restrained 
so long, till the poor people are a little grounded in the 
faith. You have need to watch over them with your might. 
Let those that have set their hands to the plough, conti- 
nually pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would send 
forth more labourers into his harvest. 

" It is far better to send your journals as they are, than 
not to send them at all. I am afraid it is too late in the 
season to send books this year, but I hope Dr. Coke has 
brought some with him to serve you for the present. 1 
was far off from London when he set sail, Most of those 



170 



LIFE OF THE 



in England who have riches love money, even the Method- 
ists, at least those who are called so. The poor are the 
Christians. I am quite out of conceit with almost all 
those who have this world's goods. Let us take care to 
lay up our treasure in heaven. Peace be with your spirit 
" I am your affectionate friend and brother, 

"J. Wesle\v' 

u TO THE REV. FREEBORN GARRETTSON. 

" Nov. 30, 1786. 

" My dear brother, — You have great reason to be thank- 
ful to God, that he lets you see the fruit of your labours. 
Whenever any are awakened, you do well to join them toge- 
ther immediately. But I do not advise you to go on too 
fast. It is not expedient to break up more ground than 
you can keep ; to preach at any more places than you or 
your brethren can constantly attend. To preach once in 
a place, and no more, very seldom does any good ; it only 
alarms the devil and his children, and makes them more 
upon their guard against a first assault. 

" Wherever there is any church service, I do not approve 
of any appointment the same hour ; because I love the 
Church of England, and would assist, not oppose it, all I 
can. How do the inhabitants of Shelburn, Halifax, and 
other parts of the province, go on as to temporal things? 
Have they trade ? Have they sufficiency of food, and the 
other necessaries of life ? And do they increase or decrease 
in numbers? It seems there is a scarcity of some things, 
of good ink, for yours is so pale that many of your words 
are not legible. 

" As I take it for granted you have had several conver- 
sations with Dr. Coke, I doubt not you proposed all your 
difficulties to him, and received full satisfaction concern- 
ing them. Commending you to him, who is able to guide 
and strengthen you in all things, 

M I am your affectionate friend and brother, 

" 3, Wesley/ 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



171 



(i P. S. Probably we shall send a little help for your 
building* if we live till conference. Observe the rules 
for building laid down in the minutes. 

" I see nothing of your journal yet. I am afraid of an- 
other American revolution. I know not how to get the 
enclosed safe to Dr. Coke, probably you know : on second 
thoughts I think it best not to write to him at present." 

" A LETTER FROM MR. GARRETTSON TO MR. WESLEY. 

"Halifax, March 10, 1787. 

" Rev. and dear Sir, — I received yours dated London , 
September 30th. As I have not had an opportunity of 
writing for a long time, I shall be the more particular in 
this. By a storm Dr. Coke was driven to Antigua, and it 
is not certain when he will be here. We are much dis- 
appointed, but hope it will all work together for good. 

" My time this winter has been spent mostly in Horton< 
Windsor, and Cornwallis. In the former there has been a 
divine display ; many convinced and converted to God. 
A few months ago the place was famous for the works of 
the devil — now for singing, praying, and hearing the word, 
If the work continue much longer as it has done, the 
greater part of the people will be brought in. I have had 
a blessed winter among them. The work greatly revives 
to the west. James Mann (a young man God has lately 
given us, whose praise is in the churches) writes, ' God is 
carrying on his work in a glorious manner in Barrington ; 
the people flock from every quarter to hear the word : 
many have been convinced, and about fourteen have been 
set at liberty, some of whom were famous for all manner 
of wickedness. The fields here seem white for harvest.' 

" Brother Cromwell has had his station in Shelburn, but 
is very poorly : he writes, ' There seem to be very dull 
times in this town: hundreds have the small pox, &,c. 
The Lord enabled me to go on as far as Cape Negro. I 
could only stay to preach a few sermons, &c. It would 



172 



LIFE OF THE 



do you good to see the dear people, some rejoicing, and 
others mourning. In this way they continued good part 
of the night : depend upon it there is a blessed revival 
here. I returned to Shelburn very poorly, and expect, if 
God spares my life, to go home early in the spring.' 

" Brother John Mann at Liverpool writes, 6 1 am greatly 
comforted under an expectation of an ingathering here ; 
the society is very lively ; several added, and several lately 
converted,' &c. Dear sir, it would cause your heart to 
rejoice to know what a deadly wound Antinomianism has 
received in the town of Horton. My dear Master has given 
me one of the first lawyers in Cornwallis, and his lady. 

" Brother Black is very steady and zealous in our cause, 
and has gone for a few weeks to the country. I Gan say 
this for Halifax, they are very kind in supporting brother 
Black's family : I think they give a guinea a week, and 
they have got a famous chapel nearly ready to preach in ; 
it will contain a thousand people. Religion, I fear, is not 
very deep as yet. 

" William Grandine, a young preacher, whom I men- 
tioned in a former letter, has returned to his friends. I am 
under a necessity of going to the west to relieve brother 
Cromwell. I know not what will become of the young 
work in Horton : God can raise up or send us a preacher. 
Poor Cumberland is still mourning for want of one. 

" I have received no books since I came to the province. 
We thought it expedient to have about fifty pounds' worth 
printed, as the printer was at leisure this winter. He 
printed several tracts very reasonably. Shall 1 ever sec 
your face ? Lord grant that I may be found worthy to meet 
you in heaven. So far I have been kept by the power of 
the Spirit, and I hope I shall never bring a reproach on 
the good cause. I want to be more given up to the work, 
with a greater nearness to God. 

" I remain, as ever, your affectionate son, 

"F. Garrettson 



REV. F. GARRETTSON 1 . 



173 



:i P. S. Since I wrote this letter I received one from bro* 
*her Mann at Liverpool, saying, ' The Lord has broken in, 
in a wonderful manner, among the people, especially among 
the young. Within a few days twenty have been set at 
liberty : nine were converted one night/ Surely the Lord 
will do great things for us. 

%t A LETTER FROM MR. GARRETTSON TO MR. WESLEY 

" Shelburn, Sept. 25, .1786. 

" Rev. and dear Sir, — Lest my other letter did not reach 
your hand I send this. My time this summer has been spent 
principally between this and Barrington, which has oc- 
casioned me many fatiguing journeys through the woods., 
many times half leg deep in mud and water. Blessed be 
God, he has supported me under all my difficulties. 

" When I first made my entrance among the people at 
Barrington, Satan strove in every possible way to hinder, 
1. The people were dissenters almost to a man. 2. There 
was a party of those they call New Lights, who stood in 
opposition, and a preacher of that denomination warned 
the people against me, telling them I was legal and desti- 
tute of faith. 3. A letter was sent by a Calvinist preacher 
who had ministered among them, warning them against 
an American. For a few days I was under great exercise 
about leaving the town, despairing of ever being the means 
of planting the gospel under these and other disadvantages. 

" The second sabbath I preached among them many came 
out to hear, and a recommendatory letter was written on 
many hearts. Before, I had scarcely a place to lay my 
head ; since, I have not wanted friends. I visited a small 
harbour a few miles off, where there were about ten fami- 
lies. We had a divine display of the goodness of God : 
very few were left behind. Of these families I have joined 
sixteen in society, ten of whom know the pardoning love 
of God to their souls About thirty young and old hare 
been baptized. One man cried out bitterly against his 

16 



174 



LIFE OP THE 



wife; went out to hear; was cut to the heart, and now 
both are rejoicing in the Lord. At the head of the har- 
bour we had a gracious display ; very few families escaped 
conviction more or less, f visited almost every family, as 
also on the two islands, and most of them were willing 
to submit to our American plan, as it is called. At the 
head the meeting house stands where I have joined a pros- 
perous society, as also at another harbour. Blessed be 
God, there have been many as clear and as powerful con- 
versions in this township, as I have seen in any part of 
the States. At different times this summer I have spent 
about eight weeks in the township, and have formed a 
small circuit, able, and willing, to support a preacher* 
There are about fifty members, twenty of whom I favour- 
ably hope have experienced the love of God, and many 
who are not in society are earnestly seeking. I appointed 
four leaders and two stewards. I am so far on my journey 
lo Liverpool, and I expect to meet the Doctor in Halifax, 
in which place we are to hold a conference the middle of 
next month. 

" My hope revives for Shelburn ; there has been an ad- 
dition, and the society has become more lively. I have 
given them my consent to take one hundred pounds on 
interest toward building a church. Most of the coloured 
people whom Morant drew off have returned. I shall 
not be satisfied till we get a preaching house in this place. 
I must beg some from Europe and some from the States. 

u Some months ago I received a letter from Mr. Asbury ? 
in which he intimated the desire they had of my being or- 
dained to superintend the work in the north. I answered 
the letter. A few days ago I received one from the Doc- 
tor on the same subject. Three considerations caused 
doubts to arise in my mind in relation to this important 
question. 1. The great desire I have of seeing England 
sooner or later. 2. My unfitness for so great a work. 
3. There are many in your connexion so much more fit 



REV. F. GARRETTSOft. 



175 



for the place. I love the connexion, and want to do every 
thing in my power to promote it. Perhaps when I shall 
receive a letter from you, and meet with the Doctor, more 
light will be cast on the subject. Don't think hard of my 
not sending my journal. 

" I have not heard from brother Cromwell for some time. 
Brother Black informs there is a moving in Halifax. J 
desire your prayers and counsel, God is love, and I wish 
to be more humble. 

"I still remain your affectionate, though unworthy son, 

" F. Garrettson." 

FROM MR. WESLEY TO MR. GARRETTSON. 

" Macclesfield, July 16, 1787. 

u Mij dear brother, — I have your letter of March 15 ? 
and that of May 20. In the former you give me a pleasing- 
account of the work of God in Halifax and other towns 
in Nova Scotia; and indeed every where except poor 
Shelburn, from which I had an excellent account a few 
years ago. Shall the first be last ? What could have occa- 
sioned the decrease of the work there ? St. rani's advice 
is certainly good for all Methodist preachers — that it is 
good for a man not to touch a woman ; and 'if thou mayst 
be free, use it rather :' and yet I dare not exclude those 
who marry out of our connexion, or forbid to marry ; but 
happy are those who having no necessity laid upon them, 
stand fast in the glorious liberty. I commend you for 
laying as little burden upon the poor people as possible. 

" Before I had printing presses of my own 1 used to 
pay two and thirty shillings for printing two and twenty 
pages duodecimo. The paper was from twelve to sixteeri 
shillings a ream. I do not blame you for printing those 
tracts. 

" But you do not send me your journal yet : surely you 
have had time enough to write it over. Dr. Coke seems 
to think you are irresolute, yet uol willing to take advice. 



176 



UFE OF THE 



I hope better things of you, and your heart says to Gq£ 
md man, what I know not, teach thou me. 
" I am your affectionate friend and brother, 

9 J. Wesley." 

The following letter to Mr. Asbury, though dated before 
some of the preceding, is inserted here, that the whole 
correspondence with Mr. Wesley might appear together 

if A LETTER FROM MR. GARRETT SON TO MR. ASBURY. 

" 1786, 

s My very dear brother , — I had the pleasure of receiving 
yours dated Charlestown, January 15, 1786, and consider- 
ed the contents. I had strange feelings on reading the 

account of poor G g, but was happy to hear of my dear 

old friend, brother Cole. I fear there is a wide door open 

for the last b p to do us much hurt. O that our dear 

Lord and Master may lay to his hand, and let the blind 
world know that there is a God in Israel. 

" I have seen neither brother Cromwell, Black, or Mann, 
since last fall, though I have frequently conversed with 
them by letter. My time this winter has been in Halifax, 
and in the different towns between that and Annapolis, 
In Cornwallis the last time I was there I put a chapel on 
foot ; there were nearly five hundred dollars subscribed : 
how they will manage I know not. On my return I put 
one on foot in Windsor. In this town God has given us 
a loving society. A few friends are willing to build one 
at Annapolis, though they have had very little preaching 
for six months. This day they began to draw stone for 
building a church in this town also. It is to be the same 
size of that of Mr. White, except a pitch higher. I have 
preached several sermons in Dartmouth, a new town, 
six miles from this. They seem very desirous, and made 
an offer of erecting a small house of worship, if we would 
pay attention to them. 



EEV. F. GARRETTSON, 



u God willing, what time I have to stay in this town J 
expect to spend as follows, viz. Sunday eight o'clock 
preach in our little chapel, which will hold about four 
hundred persons ; ten o'clock preach in the poor house, 
where there are about a hundred people ; — I gave them 
books which attached them to me ; I hope great good will 
be done among them ; — at twelve o'clock, in the preaching 
house ; four o'clock in a private house by the dock yard ; 
and by candle light in the chapel. I preach every night 
in the week : Friday visit the prisoners. After all I feel 
myself a poor needy creature. You desired me to send 
our minutes. I wanted to have a little conference in this 
place the first of April, and to have sent a full account to 
your conference : but this cannot be, and as I know bro- 
ther Cromwell's mind, I shall give you as full an account 
as I can. Halifax, where there are forty members, will 
employ one preacher ; Horton circuit will employ another., 
where I left sixty members; Annapolis circuit will em- 
ploy another, where I left nearly one hundred members last 
fall ; but how they are now I know not. In these three 
districts I expect brother Cromwell, brother Black, and 
brother Grandine, will be stationed. This brother Gran- 
dine is a young man we have taken on trial : I think he 
will be a preacher. Brother Mann must take his station 
at Liverpool, where there are about forty members. 

" There is Cumberland, where there is nothing but sin 
and the devil to hinder our gospel. This place would 
employ two preachers : however, one at present would do. 
There are about fifty members. In and around Shelburn 
there are between two and three hundred members, white 
and black. Much hurt has been done by a black man 
sent by lady Huntingdon, as brother Cromwell was not 
able to attend them constantly. Then there is the city of 
St. John's, and the country all around : I suppose there are 
twenty thousand souls. A few of our friends are scattered 
in that part ; but in all that space there is only one clergy- 

16* 



176 



LIFE OF THE 



man, an old church parson. I was informed by a respectable 
man from the east, that there are hundreds of souls entirely 
destitute of the gospel. I have heard very little from 
Newfoundland: Mr. Wesley has sent brother Megary 
there, as I am informed by Dr. Coke. So you may see 
we are in want of three preachers. I made bold to open 
matters to Mr. Wesley, and begged of him to send one 
preacher from England, as a number of people would pre- 
fer an Englishman to an American. Many have refused 
hearing me on this account. However, this prejudice 
would soon wear away. The Lord knows I am willing 
to do every thing in my power for the furtherance of the 
gospel : but as to confining myself to Nova Scotia, or any 
part of the world, I could not ; a good God does not require 
it of me. 

" There are several thousand coloured people in this 
province, and the greater part of them are willing to be 
instructed. What do you think of sending Harry here 
this spring ? I think he would be very useful. I have no 
doubt but the people will support their preachers in this 
country. It would be very well if the preachers who come 
would bring money to pay their passage ; for we have but 
little money in hand, having been under the necessity of 
buying two horses. 

" Next week I purpose to go to Shelburn, where I ex- 
pect to meet brother Cromwell : if we think it expedient, 
and have an opportunity, one of us will attend conference, 
where we can state matters fairly. I send this letter lest 
I should have no other opportunity. A preacher will not 
do here unless he is able to take a circuit. Let him ht 
in orders. 

" Yours in love, 

<£ F. Garrettson. 
" P. S. In Horton the Lord has given us a kind friend., 
though not converted, Mr. Crane. He and his brother-in- 
law have offered two hundred dollars toward building a 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



179 



church in that town. There are many places I should be 
glad to visit, if there were preachers to supply the places 
already mentioned. Dr. Coke wrote to me to visit New- 
foundland last fall, but it was not practicable." 

The preceding letters contain so full and explicit an 
account of the state of things in Nova Scotia, as well as 
the manner in which Mr. Garrettson filled up every moment 
of time in his Master's work, that the necessity of copious 
extracts from his journal is superseded. 'As his travels in 
this province form a very important era in the history of 
his life, I thought it necessary to be as particular as the 
limits of this work will allow in the details of his suffer- 
ings and labours in that country. Certainly his diligence 
and zeal, his self denial, his prayerfulness and watchful- 
ness, as well as the privations endured in this cold region 
of country, while they speak in the language of rebuke to 
(( the slothful servant," may be exhibited as an example 
of encouragement to those zealous preachers who are 
emulous to excel in " every good work" connected with 
iheir high and responsible calling. 

The following anecdotes and reflections are from the 
pen of his amiable and pious daughter, to whose diligence 
in selecting from her venerable father's papers, and tran- 
scribing them, these memoirs are greatly indebted. 

"Thus has my dear and honoured father ended his 
notes to his printed journal. When they were commenced 
and when ended I cannot precisely say, but I think it is 
one of the last testimonies which he has left, probably 
written very near the close of his devoted life. His me- 
mory was stored with a rich fund of anecdote, and I regret 
exceedingly that of many passages of his life he has left 
no record. His journals while in Nova Scotia, except 
those in print, are I believe lost. I have been able to find 
only short notices of his labours while there, and among 
my earliest and most pleasant recollections are the details 
which my dear father used to give me of his residence in 



ISO 



LIFE OF THE 



that region of frost and snow. I well remember the de 
light with which I used to climb his knee, and the impor- 
tunity with which I used to beg for a story, about Nova 
Scotia ; — and in riper years— but those halcyon days are 
for ever flown: tears will not recall them. At one 
time in order to attend his appointment, he rode through 
an unfrequented country, the hail driving in his face until 
nearly benumbed, he was obliged to lay the reins on the 
neck of his horse, and leave the animal by his own instinct 
to keep the road. There was no visible track, and turn- 
ing out of the road in that country exposed the traveller 
to the greatest fatigue, as his horse sunk in the mass of 
unbeaten snow. At length he arrived at the only house 
lie had seen ; his horse stopped at the door, and he had 
only life enough left to walk in and throw himself on the 
bed. None but children were within, who covered him 
with plenty of bed clothes, while he lay almost insensible 
for nine hours, and had nearly forfeited his valuable life 
by too great eagerness in his Master's cause. 

" He had often to cross the St. John's whose tide re- 
cedes, leaving its bed nearly empty, and again comes roar- 
ing up with great velocity and force, sweeping every thing 
before it, and elevating on its waves the vessels and ships 
which it had left dry. During its recession its bed is ford- 
able ; but in winter the crossing is dangerous on account 
of the large masses of ice it leaves behind. On one occa- 
sion his guide, instead of leading him up the river, went 
down, and they were not apprized of their danger until 
they saw the tide fast roaring toward them. The guide 
shrieked out, ' Put spurs to your horse and make for the 
nearest land V He did so, although uncertain whether it 
would be accessible when attained, for the shores there- 
about were very bold and rugged. His horse was fleet ; 
the shore was accessible ; he outrode the wave, which 
^5 wept over the back of his horse just as he had set foot 
upon the land, I have often heard my father say that 



KEY. F. GAKKETTSQN* 



1S2 



if he had only been half the length of his horse's body 
behind, he should have been swept off like a feather on 
the tide." 

It appears that Mr. Garrettson continued to travel and 
preach in this province until April 10, 1787, when he 
embarked for Boston, Mass., leaving as a testimony of his 
fidelity and success in his Lord's vineyard, about six hun- 
dred members in society. After a perilous passage of 
three days he arrived in Boston, where he was kindly re- 
ceived' by a few pious friends. 

About seventeen years before the visit of Mr. Garrettson, 
Mr. Boardman, one of the European Methodist preachers, 
had preached in Boston, and formed a small society ; but 
not being succeeded by any minister of the same order, the 
society gradually diminished, so that at the time of which 
we are now speaking, there were only three members left, 
Not being admitted to. any of the pulpits in this city, Mr. 
Garrettson preached a few sermons in some private houses, 
and on Monday, April 17, he passed on to Providence in 
Rhode Island, where he says he found several who loved 
the Lord Jesus. Here he was invited by the Presbyterian 
minister, the Rev. Mr. Snow, who he says was a worthy 
and pious man, to preach in his church, which he did 
twice to a numerous and attentive audience. Passing 
from thence to Newport, he preached by invitation in the 
meeting house morning and evening to a numerous assem- 
bly, among whom he rejoiced to find some, as he believed , 
eminently pious. He then sailed for New- York, where, 
after a passage of forty-eight hours, he arrived in safety, 
and was much refreshed in meeting his old friends, and 
participating with* their joy in a revival of religion with 
which they had been favoured. After preaching on the 
Lord's day with much satisfaction, and spending a few 
days in visiting some of his Christian friends, he went 
forward to Philadelphia, where he preached a few times, 
'took sweet counsel" with his brethren, and departed foj 



182 



LIFE OF THE 



Baltimore, where he arrived on Tuesday, and " mj 
heart/' says he, " was made glad while I sat in confer- 
ence with many of my old friends, the servants of Jesus.'" 
It was now eleven years since Mr. Garrettson commenced 
his itinerating labours. When he entered this arduous 
field, there were three thousand one hundred and forty- 
eight members in the societies, and nineteen preachers ; 
they were now increased to twenty thousand six hundred 
and eighty-one members, and one hundred and seventeen 
preachers ; making an increase of seventeen thousand 
four hundred and thirty-three members, and ninety-eight 
preachers. Although others contributed their portion 
toward this extension of the work of God, it must be 
evident to all who impartially consult the preceding pages, 
that Mr. Garrettson was among the most active, zealous., 
and successful of them all. Indeed, as the Rev. Ezekiel 
Cooper, who, after his awakening and conversion as before 
mentioned, was intimately acquainted with Mr, Garrett- 
son, observed to me, he seemed to be all devotion, full of 
prayer and faith ; and his preaching was attended with the 
mighty power of God. Listening multitudes hung on his 
lips with the most fixed attention, while the Spirit of God, 
which so eminently accompanied his word, powerfully 
wrought upon their hearts, extorting the anxious inquirv 
* l What must we do to be saved ? ?? 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



188 



CHAPTER XII. 

Attends Conference in Baltimore— Elected superintendent of the 
societies in British America — Strong solicitations to accept the 
office — Reasons for declining — Appointed to the Peninsula — Con 
trust between the present and former state of the people here— 
Methodism generally prosperous — But some delusions — Their cause 
—Closes his labours in this place. 

We have traced the life of our venerable father in the 
gospel thus far, having been guided by his printed and 
manuscript journals. We have seen him contending with 
the cold, the snow, the mud and water of the north, and 
seen him triumphing in the midst of these and other pri- 
vations of that inhospitable climate, from a consciousness 
of the divine approbation and the prospect of usefulness 
to the souls of men ; until, having completed his mission 
in these parts, he found himself once more seated among 
his beloved brethren in these United States. 

To give a faithful narrative of the events of his life, it 
is necessary to detail some of the transactions of this con- 
ference, which was held in Baltimore, May 1, 1787. It 
seems that Mr. Wesley having witnessed the sincerity, 
zeal, and devotedness of Mr. Garrettson in the work of 
the ministry, had designated him as the future superintend- 
ent of the Methodist societies in the British dominions in 
America. Dr. Coke, on his arrival to this conference, 
made known the wishes of Mr. Wesley in this respect, and 
the subject was submitted to the conference, and was by 
that body " unanimously sanctioned." 

Mr. Garrettson, with a view to correct an erroneous 
statement which had been made of this affair, gives in 
his " semi-centennial sermon" a fair and candid narra-* 
tion of the facts in the case. Ho says that after the con- 
ference had approved of his appointment to this office by 
Mr. Wesley, " Dr. Coke, as Mr. Wesley's delegate and 
representative, asked me if I would accept of the appoint- 



184 



LIFE OF THE 



ment. I requested the liberty of deferring my answer 
until the next day. I think on the next day the Doctor 
came to my room and asked me if I had made up my mind 
to accept of my appointment : I told him I had upon cer- 
tain conditions. I observed to him that I was willing to 
go on a tour, and visit those parts to which I was appoint- 
ed for one year, and if there was a cordiality in the appoint- 
ment with those whom I was requested to serve, I would 
return to the next conference, and receive ordination for 
the office of superintendent. His reply was, ' 1 am per- 
fectly satisfied/ and he gave me a recommendatory letter 
to the brethren in the West Indies, &c. I had intended 
as soon as conference rose, to pursue my voyage to the 
West India islands, to visit Newfoundland and Nova Sco~ 
tia, and in the spring to return. What transpired in the 
conference during my absence, I know not; but I was 
astonished when the appointments were read, to hear my 
name mentioned to preside in the Peninsula.' ' 

It would appear from this plain statement of Mr. Gar* 
rettson, that some alteration took place in the mind of the 
conference respecting his appointment to the superintend- 
encyof the British provinces in America, and that it was 
finally agreed among themselves that it was not expedient 
that he should go at this time. Probably knowing the 
value of his services in his Lord's vineyard, and being 
comparatively young as a church, they were unwilling to 
have him so entirely separated from them. However this 
may be, it is certain that it was a source of disappointment 
to himself, of some grief to Mr. Wesley, and contrary to 
the wishes of many of his brethren in Nova Scotia, as the 
following extracts of letters will show : — 

Mr. Black, in a letter dated Cornwallis, March 10, 
1787, and presumed — for the inscription is torn off — to be 
directed to Dr. Coke, says : — " Brother Garrettson has 
been a great blessing to us in this province. The hearts' 
of the people and preachers are more than ever united to 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



185 



him ; and we believe that were he to return to us he would 
be more extensively useful than heretofore ; for the ears of 
the people are more than ever open to hear his message. 
He is better acquainted with the peculiar dispositions of 
the people than any one else, and therefore would be most 
likely to do them good. Thinking it to be his duty to 
attend the conference in the United States, we fear when 
he finds so many urgent calls for help in that extensive 
country, that he will be tempted to forget us in this dark 
corner of the world. At the same time we cannot but 
think it to be his duty to return. We are truly sorry that 
he refused the superintendency,* but hope when he sees 
you he may receive that honour. These lines are to 
request you to use your influence in persuading him to 
do so." 

In a letter to Mr. Garrettson himself, dated at Shelburn, 
June 4, 1788, Mr. Black thus expresses himself: — "I 
have heard nothing from you these six months. We have 
been expecting you a long time, but in vain. Do, my 
dear brother, make all the speed you can. Let none per- 
suade you to the contrary. Do, my dear brother, come 
away directly. " In another of June 30, 1788, he thus 
earnestly addresses Mr. Garrettson : — " O my dear brother, 
do come away as soon as possible. The hearts of the peo- 
ple are knit to you in a peculiar manner, and I believe 
you would be more useful than ever ; and you know your 
labours were before blessed to many precious souls. Come 
away ! come away, my dear brother, come away ! O do 
not let any persuade you to stay. You know you have 
Bishop Asbury's consent to come : besides the people are 
ready to think you are forgetful of your words, as they 
expected you long since."f Once more under date of 

* This must have reference to his appointment to that office by 
Mr. Wesley, as at the date of this letter Mr. Garrettson had not 
been elected by the conference. 

i Perhaps these expressions were founded on a letter which Mr. 
17 



186 



LIFE OF THE 



August 14, of the same year, Mr. Black says, " O ! my 
dear brother, do make haste and come away to Nova Sco- 
tia. The friends long to see you, and our circumstances 
call for you. Come once more and help us." 

Mr. James Mann, another preacher who was travelling 
in Nova Scotia at this time, under date of Feb. 2, 1788, 
after detailing some of the embarrassments under which 
they laboured, says to Mr. Garrettson, " O brother ! pray 
for us. Heaven bless and prosper you in the vineyard of 
the Lord. I long to see you, and we have been looking 
for you, and hope we shall not be disappointed of your 
coming in the spring." 

Mr. Alexander Anderson writes to Mr. Garrettson un- 
der date of June 17, 1788, thus : — " We have ardently 
longed for your return to this province ; and have expect- 
ed you for some time past. We trust, however, that the 
charge you have received in the United States is for the 
glory of God and the good of souls." 

Surely no testimonies could be more honourable, or in- 
vitations more pressing. The idea, however, was finally 
abandoned by Mr. Garrettson of returniug to Nova Scotia, 
or of accepting the superintendency of the work in the 

Garrettson had written some time previously to Mr. Baxter of An- 
tigua, of which the following is an extract. 

" Maryland, Sept. 10, 1787. 
" My very dear brother, — I have been earnestly solicited by Dr, 
Coke and others to become a member of the British conference in 
British America. I expect to meet Mr. Asbury in a few weeks, 
and know not but I shall be with you late in the fall. I want to 
act in that sphere in which I shall the most glorify my dear Lord. 
The cause of God lies near my heart : though my connexions here 
are very near to me, yet at the call of my God I could cheerfully 
leave them. 

M I expected to be in Halifax before this, but there was none to 
take charge of the work in this quarter, so that necessity called me 
to stay. I fear lest our societies should decline in that country 
The work is very great in the States." 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



187 



British provinces, for which he assigns the following rea- 
sons: — " 1. I was not acquainted with all the preachers, 
especially with those who were lately from England. 2. I 
felt unqualified for the charge. 3. I was not clear that I 
had a call to leave the United States." Of whatever use 
he might have been to the people in that country, subse- 
quent events have justified the belief that his labours were 
both highly prized and eminently useful in the United 
States, and the whole tenor of his life proves that he strove 
to move in the order of Divine providence. 

Having thus relinquished the thought of returning to 
Nova Scotia, and having received his appointment to pre- 
side in the Peninsula as above stated, he entered upon his 
work with his accustomed diligence, though not without 
some pressure of spirit, as he had reason to suspect that 
some unfriendliness had been manifested toward him, 
though he knew not by whom. To Dr. Coke he felt a 
strong attachment and the sincerest affection, and says 
that they " mingled their tears together at this conference." 

Perhaps no place on the continent could have been 
more agreeable to him as the field of his labour, than the 
Peninsula. It was here that he had spent the first days 
of his ministry, where the Lord had given him signal dis- 
plays of his approbation, and where he had suffered beat- 
ing and imprisonment for the cause of his adorable Mas- 
ter. The effect of his former labours, however, was now 
most visible. The storm of human passion was hushed 
to silence — tranquillity reigned — and he now felt himself 
in more danger from the caresses of his friends, than he 
before had done from the peltings of his enemies. Being 
now among his old friends, many of whom were his spiritual 
children, the ardour of his soul burst forth, as it were, anew, 
and he found himself, in some sense, unexpectedly in the 
midst of every thing calculated to make life agreeable. 
He continued in this part of the country about twelve 
months, during which time he visited every circuit, and 



IBS 



LIFE OF THE 



almost every congregation, and was greatly refreshed and 
strengthened in his work. Multitudes flocked to hear the 
word, some excited from curiosity to see the man of whom 
so much had been said in former days, some from a desire 
to " learn the way of the Lord more perfectly," and num- 
bers more to hear again from the lips of this flaming mes- 
senger of Christ, those precious truths which they had 
found to be " the power of God to their salvation." So 
great, indeed, was the attention given to the " words of 
this life," that Mr. Garrettson observes, "that it seemed 
as if they would all become Methodists." 

Though this was the general aspect of affairs in this 
favoured region of country, there were some exceptions, 
In Dorset county, which he visited on the third of June, 
he was glad to meet a large congregation of attentive 
hearers, to whom he preached under the shade of a grove, 
as the house could not contain so numerous an audience. 
On this occasion he observes, that some time since there 
was a great work of God on this Neck of land, but now it 
seems the work is quite stationary, if not on the decline, 
As a reason for this he remarks that " those preachers 
whose labours had been particularly blessed in this revival 
were lively and powerful in their ministrations, so that 
some thought there was much of what is called wild fire 
among the people. Indeed the cries of the distressed were 
frequently so loud, that the voice of the preacher was 
drowned. I was informed that these people had been 
visited by some who had but little fellowship for what they 
called noisy meetings, in consequence of which the work 
began to decline. Extremes are always dangerous ; and 
happy the man who knows how to keep in the golden 
mean. I am never offended in hearing convinced sinners 
ory aloud for mercy ; neither do I doubt but that the chil- 
dren of God are so happy at times, that they are constrain- 
ed to shout the praises of God." 

To distinguish between the mere excitement of human 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 



189 



passions, and the operations of the Spirit of God, is highly 
important, though sometimes difficult, to the promotion of 
the work of grace. When the Spirit of God operates upon 
the human heart, the passions are less or more excited , 
either to sorrow or joy, according to the moral state of the 
heart. To suppose, therefore, a work of grace without 
the excitement of the human passions, is as great an ab- 
surdity as it would be to expect a man to breathe without 
any movement of the lungs, the organs of respiration. 
That the passions may be under strong excitement where 
there is no genuine work of the Holy Spirit forms no valid 
objection to this position. In the first case the " fruits of 
the Spirit" follow ; in the latter not ; and " by their fruits 
ye shall know them." 

He continued in the Peninsula until May 1788, during 
. which time a day seldom passed but that he preached at 
least once, and sometimes twice or three times with great 
freedom. Though there was not so large an increase to 
the societies as in former days when he laboured there, 
many were edified in the Church, in the several counties 
on the eastern shore of Maryland, through all of which he 
travelled during the year. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Proposes visiting New-England — Stops in New-York — Takes 
charge of the northern district — Enters on his work with twelve 
young preachers under his oversight — General state of the coun- 
try — Correspondence with Mr. Wesley — Second tour through his 
district — Death of Mr. Cook— Curious conversation — Origin of 
Methodism in Ashgrove— Dangerously wounded — Commencement 
of Methodism on Long Island— Mr. Garrettson visits there— Ob- 
stacles to the progress of truth — Attends the first Courfcil in Balti- 
more — Journal of a tour through a part of New-England to Boston 
—Attends Conference in New- York — Comparative view of the work 
in this part of the country. 

Having completed his labours in the Peninsula, and 
being very solicitous to visit the New-England states, 

17* 



190 



LIFE OF THE 



where the Methodists had made yet but a feeble impression f 
by the request and approbation of Bishop Asbury, Mr. 
Garrettson left this scene of his successful toil in May 1788, 
and came to the north, having Boston particularly in his 
view. Arriving at New- York, the stationed preacher, 
Mr. Hickson, being at the point of death, and Mr. Dick- 
ins, the other preacher, in ill health, he was solicited by 
the people to remain with them, and supply the pulpits. 
Believing the call to be urgent, he complied with their 
request, and continued in the city, except some occasional 
excursions on Long Island and the New Rochelle circuits, 
until the ensuing conference. Having received several 
invitations from a variety of places, backed by similar ones 
directed to the conference, Mr. Garrettson relinquished 
the idea of visiting Boston for the present, and took charge 
of the northern district of country bordering on the Hud- 
son river. 

It seems that since the year 1785, in consequence of 
there being but few preachers ordained to the office of 
elder, a number of deacons and preachers were placed 
under the special oversight of some one of the elders, that 
the people might be the better supplied with the ordinances 
of the gospel. These elders were instructed to travel at 
large through the bounds of their respective districts, hold 
quarterly meetings, preach and administer the ordinances, 
assist and direct the preachers under their care in their 
work. This is the origin among us of presiding elders, 
though they were not designated by that name in the mi- 
nutes of conference until the year 1797. Mr. Garrettson 
had been appointed to this charge on the Peninsula, and 
indeed he had exercised a similar oversight while in Nova 
Scotia, as well as during part of his labours before he went 
to that country. To this office he was more especially 
appointed at this conference, with a view to open new 
circuits, for which he seems to have been peculiarly quali- 
fied, and in which he was remarkably successful. 



REV, F. GARRETTSON, 191 

He observes that as it had pleased the Lord to thrust 
out a number of young men in the New- York conference. 
Bishop Asbury, our venerable father in the gospel, "re- 
quested me to take charge of them, and do the best I could, 
I was very uneasy in my mind, being unacquainted with 
the country, an entire stranger to its inhabitants, there 
being no Methodist societies further north than West- 
chester ; but I gave myself to earnest prayer for direction, 
I knew that the Lord was with me. In the night season , 
in a dream, it seemed as if the whole country up the North 
river, as far as lake Champlain, east and west, was open 
to my view. 

" After the conference adjourned I requested the young 
men to meet me. Light seemed so reflected on my path, 
that I gave them directions where to begin, and which 
way to form their circuits. I also appointed the time for 
each quarterly meeting, requested them to take up a col- 
lection in every place where they preached, and told them 
that I should go up the north river to the extreme parts of 
the work, visiting the towns and cities on the way, and in 
my return I should visit them all, and hold their quarterly 
meetings. I had no doubt but that the Lord would do 
wonders, for the young men were pious, zealous, and la- 
borious." 

Having thus laid down the plan for their work, he set 
out for the north on his intended tour. A great portion 
of the country through which he was appointed to labour, 
especially the northern part of New- York state, and Ver- 
mont, was in a very barren state as it respects religion, 
Some scattering congregations, consisting of Lutherans, 
and Dutch Reformed, and some others, were established 
along the eastern and western sides of the Hudson ; but 
even in these the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel 
were but feebly supported, and rarely made the subject of 
experience. The settlements on the west side of the river, 
at a small distance from its margin, were quite new, the 



192 



LIFE OF THE 



roads bad, and accommodations for preachers very poor. 
The same may be said of all the country north of Lansing- 
burg. In respect to that portion of New-England which 
was included in the district of country allotted to Mr. Gar- 
rettson as the scene of his present labours, though it was 
regularly divided into parishes, each of which generally 
had a settled pastor, yet experimental religion was at a low 
ebb. The theological tenets also, chiefly inculcated in 
this country, were diametrically opposed to some points of 
doctrine promulgated by the Methodists. The former 
embraced all the peculiarities of the Calvinistic system, 
while the latter embraced those of the Arminian. On this 
account I suppose that in no place did the Methodist 
preachers meet with more decided opponents or more 
forward disputants than in New-England. Though the 
preachers laboured principally to inculcate experimental 
and practical godliness, as being the most essential to man's 
happiness and salvation, yet to promote this object the 
most effectually, they found it necessary frequently to bring 
before their hearers those peculiarities of their theological 
system by which it was distinguished from Calvinism. 
This gave offence to the clergy who tenaciously held to 
the latter, and provoked them to controversy. From them 
a disputatious spirit descended to their hearers, many of 
whom considered themselves fully competent to defend 
those abstruse points of divinity, and thus mingled their 
ignorance with a love of controversy, often involving them- 
selves in a labyrinth of intricate reasonings which they 
could neither understand themselves nor explain to others, 
much less defend against the plain declarations of inspired 
Scripture. These circumstances often obliged the Method- 
ist preachers, after delivering their discourses, to encounter 
a spirit of opposition as irksome to an ingenuous mind, 
as it is unprofitable to a hardened heart. Frequently, 
however, the pointed question, " Have you been converted 
to God ?" put by one of these flaming messengers of God, 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



193 



would silence debate, and produce a conviction, at least 
in the minds of some of the hearers, of the superior advan- 
tage of experimental over a merely theoretical knowledge 
of divine things. 

This was the general state of the country, and of the 
people where Mr. Garrettson was appointed at this time 
to labour. He entered, however, upon his task with the 
same ardour of soul, and applied himself to the work with 
the same indefatigable and untiring zeal by which he had 
before been distinguished. Passing up the country on the 
east side of the Hudson, through New Rochelle, North 
Castle, Bedford, Peekskill, in all of which places he stopped 
to administer the word of life, he arrived at Rhinebeck^ 
where he lodged with Thomas Tillotson, Esq., and the 
next day preached in a barn, on, "We preach Christ 
Jesus, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the 
Greeks foolishness." Before he left the place he preached 
several sermons, and the number of hearers continually 
increased. He was generally received in this, as well as 
other places, as a commissioned messenger of God, and 
"one said he need not change his appearance to be re- 
ceived as an angel." 

After having passed through the northern part of his 
district, he returned and found that the Lord had abun- 
dantly blessed the labours of the preachers in almost every 
place. " Many houses," says he, " and hands, and hearts 
were opened ; and before the commencement of the win- 
ter, we had several large circuits formed ; and the most of 
the preachers were comfortably situated, sinners in a 
variety of places began to inquire what they should do to 
be saved. 

" Satan and his children were much alarmed, and began 
on every hand to threaten us. Some said, * They are good 
men;' others said, 'Nay, they are deceivers of the peo- 
ple.' A stranger from Vermont, on his way down the 
country > informed the people that we were spread all 



194 



LIFE OF THE 



through the country through which he came. This sud- 
den spread of our preachers caused some person to say, 
■ I know not from whence they all come, unless from the 
clouds.' Others said, ' The king of England hath sent 
them to disaffect the people ; and they did not doubt but 
they would bring on another war while others gave it as 
their opinion that we were the false prophets spoken of in 
Scripture, who should come in the last days, and deceive, 
if it were possible, the very elect. Among others, the 
ministers of the different denominations were alarmed, 
fearing lest we should break up their congregations ; and 
frequently coming to hear, some of them openly opposed, 
declaring publicly that the doctrine was false. The power 
of the Lord attended the word, and a great reformation 
was seen among the people ; and many were enabled to 
speak freely and feelingly of what God had done for their 
souls. My custom was to go round the district every three 
months, and then return to New-York ; where I commonly 
stayed about two weeks. In going once round I usually 
travelled about a thousand miles, and preached upwards 
of a hundred sermons," 

During the above tour, he informs us of his being fre- 
quently occupied, when not engaged in travelling and 
preaching, in writing. It seems that Mr, Wesley, having 
heard much of Mr. Garrettson's experience, activity, and 
success in his Lord's work, had been very desirous of 
receiving a written account of these things from himself. 
After considerable hesitancy, he concluded to gratify the 
wishes of Mr. Wesley in this respect, and accordingly set 
himself to transcribing such parts of his journal as he 
thought would be most beneficial to give to the public. 
Fearing, however, that he should not live to receive it 
unless sent immediately, and that Mr. Garrettson was un- 
necessarily scrupulous on this subject, Mr. Wesley ad= 
dressed to him the following letter :— 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



195 



** FROM MR. WESLEY TO MR. GARRETTSON. 

" London, Jan. 24, 1789. 
" My dear brother, — It signifies but little where we are, 
so we are but fully employed for our good Master. Whe- 
ther you went, therefore, to the east, it is all one, so you 
were labouring to promote his work. You are following 
the order of his providence wherever it appeared, as a 
holy man strongly expressed it, in a kind of holy disor- 
dered order. But there is one expression that occurs twice 
or thrice in yours, which gives me some concern : you 
speak of finding freedom to do this or that. This is a 
word much liable to be abused. If I have plain Scripture 
or plain reason for doing a thing, well. These are my 
rules, and my only rules. I regard not whether I had 
freedom or no. This is an unscriptural expression, and a 
very fallacious rule. I wish to be in every point, great 
and small, a scriptural rational Christian. 

" In one instance formerly, you promised to send me 
your journal. Will you break your word, because you do 
not find freedom to keep it ! Is not this enthusiasm ? O 
be not of this way of thinking. You know not whither it 
may lead you. You are called to square your useful life 
below by reason and by grace. But whatever you do with 
regard to me, you must do quickly, or you will no more in 
this world. 

Your affectionate friend and brother, 

" J. Wesley/' 

The journal was sent, but in consequence of the loss 
of the ship in which it was despatched, it never arrived 
Of this circumstance Mr. Garrettson was not apprized 
until the following letters from Mr. Wesley gave him the 
information. 



196 



LIFE OP THE 



" Chester, July 15, 1789. 

"My dear brother, — You are entirely in the right. 
There can be no manner of doubt that it was the enemy 
of souls that hindered your sending me your experience. 
Many parts of both of your inward and outward experience 
ought by no means to be suppressed. But if you are minded 
to send any thing to me, you have no time to lose. What- 
ever you do for me you must do quickly lest death have 
quicker wings than love. A great man observes that 
there is a three fold leading of the Spirit : some he leads 
by giving them on every occasion apposite texts of Scrip- 
ture; some by suggesting reasons for every step they take, 
(the way by which he chiefly leads me,) and some by im- 
pressions ; but he judges the last to be the least desirable 
way, as it is often impossible to distinguish dark impres- 
sions from divine, or even diabolical. 

" I hope you will not long delay to write more particu- 
larly to your affectionate friend and brother, 

"J. Wesley." 

" FROM MR. WESLEY TO MR. GARRETTSON. 

" London, Feb. 3, 1790. 

( 6 My dear brother, — Two or three weeks ago I had the 
pleasure of a letter from you, dated August 23, 1789, giv- 
ing me a comfortable account of the swift and extensive 
progress of the work of God in America. You likewise 
informed me that you had written an account of your life, 
and directed it should be sent to me; and I have been 
expecting it, from day to day, ever since, but have now 
almost given over my expectation ; for, unless it comes 
soon it will hardly overtake me in the present world. You 
see time has shaken me by the hand, and death is not far 
behind. While we live let us work our Lord's work be- 
times, and in his time he will give us our full reward. 

" I am your affectionate friend and brother, 

"J. Wesley.' 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 



197 



While Mr. Garrettson was finishing a letter in which he 
designed to enclose another copy of his journal, the public 
prints announced to him the death of that great man. of 
God, the Rev. John Wesley. Being thus disappointed of 
gratifying the desires of his venerable friend, Mr. Garrett- 
son concluded to print the journal, somewhat enlarged, in 
America. It was republished in Europe, both in the Eng- 
lish and French languages, and has no doubt proved a 
blessing to very many souls. 

June 9, 1789, Mr. Garrettson set off on another tour to 
the north. According to his usual custom, as he passed 
through the towns, he stopped and preached to the people, 
and generally found much attention to the word. On 
Sunday the 14th, he preached in the town of Bedford, and 
formed a society. Though the people in this place had 
been educated in the Calvinistic faith, many of them be- 
came convinced of its errors, and were glad to hear a sys- 
tem of doctrines exhibited more consistent with the divine 
perfections, and better adapted to the condition of man. 
Both at the Stony-street church on the morning of the 16th, 
and at the English church in the evening at Peekskill, he 
found much freedom in preaching the word of truth ; and 
at General Van Cortlandt's, where he lodged for the night, 
he found an agreeable and an affectionate family. 

After passing through the highlands, and preaching at 
Mr. Jackson's, where he found a people apparently strug- 
gling after the liberty of God's children, he paid a visit to 
Mr. Cook, an exemplary and zealous preacher, whom he 
found near death, but whose soul was happy in the enjoyment 
of his God. He died in peace soon after. He had been 
fifteen years in the work of the ministry, was a son of 
affliction, naturally subject to great dejection of spirits, too 
modest to complain, and in the midst of his sufferings 
evinced by his patient submission to the allotments of pro- 
vidence his constant faith in God. "The last words I 
heard him utter/' says Mr. Garrettson, were, " I feel my- 

18 



198 



LIFE OF THE 



self an unprofitable servant, but Jesus is precious to my soul 
I am now reminded of what I have often told the people 
in my preaching of the happiness of dying saints. I now 
see angels around my bed, waiting to convey my happy 
soul to heaven." At Dr. Bartlett's he met Bishop Asbury, 
in company with one of the preachers, with whom he took 
sweet counsel, heard him preach, and then passed on to 
Rhinebeck, where he preached, and found a few whose 
hearts the Lord had touched, but felt somewhat distressed 
on account of the indifference manifested by most of the 
people to the things of eternity. Perhaps he little thought 
at that time that this place was to become his future resi- 
dence, connected with a partner in life so admirably quali- 
fied to participate in his joys and sorrows. From Rhine- 
beck he went to Hudson, and thence to Albany, (visiting 
the intermediate places,) where he preached in the assem- 
bly room, but found much opposition among the citizens 
generally to the truths he delivered. A few, however, 
bowed a willing obedience to the word, and a small soci- 
ety seemed to be in a flourishing state. In Schenectady 
also he found a strong current of prejudice setting in against 
his endeavours to do good, though he was permitted to 
preach in the English church. The good seed, however, 
sown in these places, did not entirely " fall by the way 
side," as some are yet living who received their first reli- 
gious impressions under Mr. Garrettson's preaching, and 
how many will be found " in that day," who can tell ? 

The following conversation which Mr. Garrettson relates 
shows the pernicious influence which an erroneous doctrine 
has over the hearts and practices of some people. " Mon- 
day, July 6," he says, " I set out on a journey to the north, 
and on my way I overtook an old gentleman, who said, 
1 1 expect you are a minister. O ! it is a blessed work if 
you are called to it. I am a follower of Christ, and know 
my peace made with God.' How, said I, do you know 
that ? ' By the spirit which he has given me.' Do you. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



199 



said I, know that your sins are forgiven ? ' O yes.' Do you, 
•said I, live in sin ? * Yes, we are all sinners.' Pray, said 
I, how can you know your sins forgiven, if you live in sin? 
4 1 have the imputed righteousness of Christ, and it is no 
more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.' Don't you, 
said I, swear sometimes ? ' Swear, yes, and I have been 
drunk too, many times since I was made a new creature, 
but my comfort is, I cannot fall.' What, said I, would 
become of your soul if you were to die drunk ? ' Die drunk ! 
what would you think to see the sun fall? was it ever 
known that a saint diecRjrunk? Impossible!' Well, said 
I> according to your doctrine, if you always keep yourself 
intoxicated with strong liquor, you will never die. Sin 
made man mortal ; but I cannot find from Scripture that 
drunkenness makes him immortal. ' Sir,' said he, ' I per- 
ceive you are a rank Arminian, and I would not go the 
length of my foot, to hear you preach, for you are an ac- 
cuser of the brethren ; and hold out a very uncomfortable 
doctrine to God's dear children.' Pray, said I, to what de- 
nomination do you profess to belong ? 4 1 am an old Eng- 
lishman, and a convert of Mr. Whitefield's, and a New 
Light by profession, from the sole of my foot to the crown 
of my head.' After I endeavoured to set his danger before 
him, I wished him well ; and riding thirty miles I found 
great liberty to preach my dear Lord's gospel, from the 
lanjyage of the jailer, 1 What shall I do to be saved?' " 

Passing through the country, and preaching to attentive 
congregations, he came to Ashgrove, where he found a 
number of kind friends, members of society, who had erect- 
ed a house of worship. He observes that when he first 
visited that place, he found some Methodist emigrants from 
Ireland, most of whom, however, had become quite luke- 
warm in religion, but who were reanimated by his preach- 
ing, and quite a number of others were awakened to a 
sense of the importance of religion. On this circuit Mr. 
Darius Dunham had been instrumental in the conversion 



200 



LIFE OF THE 



of a number of souls, so that on the present visit Mr. Gar- 
rettson found a thriving society. 

Perhaps the following sketch of the rise of the society 
in Ashgrove may not be uninteresting to the reader. It 
is taken chiefly from a communication from the Rev. D. 
Brayton, published in the Methodist Magazine for 1827, 
Before the revolutionary war, a Mr. Ashton emigrated from 
Ireland to this place, who, in conjunction with Mr. Philip 
Embury — the same Embury who had been instrumental 
in raising the society in New- York — formed a society at 
Ashgrove. It seems 'that after the arrival of the regular 
preachers from England, Mr. Embury not finding his ser- 
vices needed in New- York, in company with some others 
of the society, removed to this place. They had no help 
until the arrival of Mr John Baker, also an Irish emigrant, 
in the year 1786. After his arrival, he made several efforts 
to obtain the assistance of some travelling preacher, but 
was not successful, on account of the paucity of their num- 
ber, until 1788, when, in answer to a petition sent to the 
conference, Mr. Lemuel Smith was sent to take charge of 
the society, under the direction of Mr. Garrettson. He 
brought the society into regular order, and extended his 
labours with effect into other places. He was succeeded 
by Mr. Dunham before mentioned. This society may be 
considered as the centre of Methodism in this northern 
part of the country-. 

After holding a quarterly meeting at Ashgrove, which 
was attended with signal displays of the power of God, 
Mr. Garrettson returned to Albany, where he met the little 
society. The next day he rode to Dr. H.'s. His horse 
being so lame as not to be able to carry him, he set off on 
foot, and after travelling nearly twenty miles, he came to 
Spencertown, where he preached with much satisfaction. 
Notwithstanding much opposition had been made here 
against the work of God, he found it in a prosperous state* 
In Sheffield, also, he found some souls brought to the 



REV. P. GARRETTSON- 



201 



knowledge of the truth. In Canaan he was permitted to 
preach in the Presbyterian meeting house, and found the 
minister and people of a very catholic spirit, and willing 
to promote the cause in which he was engaged. Here, 
also, he found the work of God prospering under the 
labours of Messrs.* Bloodgood and Wigton. Though the 
people in these parts, he says, had been much troubled 
with Antinomianism, he found the gloomy doctrine reced- 
ing before the rising beams of the sun of truth. 

July 23, he came to the town of Sharon, in Connecticut, 
where he found a number of precious souls, to whom he 
preached in the open air, there being so many assembled 
that no house could accommodate them. After remarking 
that he believed the Lord had a work to do in this place, 
he records the following incidents : — 

" I was sweetly drawn out in writing till about two 
o'clock. As the man of the house was gone out early in 
the morning, I went into the meadow to catch my horse 
He was tied with a long rope to feed in the edge of the 
meadow, and as I had hold 'of the rope gathering him to 
me, he gave a sudden jerk, and by some means the rope 
got around my arms and body so that in less than half a 
minute I was thrown, and entirely bereft of my senses. 
How long I lay in this situation, I know not ; for no per- 
son was near me. I knew not who I was, nor where I 
was. After lying, for a considerable time, in as much 
pain as if I had been on a rack or wheel, I suppose rolling 
from side to side, I made an attempt to lay my head on 
my hat for a pillow, and saw the two first letters of my name 
in my hat, and immediately I knew myself, and cried out, 
is this poor Garrettson? Where is he, and what is the 
matter 1 I received a small degree of knowledge^nd arose 



from the earth, walked to the house, and was lam upon a 
hed. Providentially a skilful surgeon was at hand, who 
came to me and found my right shoulder dislocated,* and my 
* From the effects of this accident he never fully recovered. 




18* 



202 



LIFE Of THE 



left wrist, thumb, and shoulder, and several fingers, much 
strained, ray body severely bruised, and several contusions 
on my head. Several assisted, and my shoulder was re- 
placed, blood was let, and my other wounds bound up. 
Immediately after I was bled I recovered my senses as 
perfectly as ever, and was enabled to look up by faith to 
my beloved Saviour and received a strong confidence in 
him. Many of the inhabitants of the town came in to see 
me, and my soul was so happy that I was constrained with 
tears to exhort all that came near. I think I never had 
so strong a witness of perfect love. I was enabled to bless 
God for the affliction, and would not have had it otherwise. 
I do believe it was rendered a blessing to the place. I 
desired a person to borrow a carriage ; he did, and carried 
me as far as Oblong, and the next day to Dover, where I 
received strength to preach to a large congregation in the 
church, to administer the sacrament to about twenty, and 
it was a powerful time. The two following days I rode 
about forty miles across mountains almost impassable for 
a carriage, and suffered much pain ; but my mind wag 
sweetly calm and happy. 

" Wednesday I rode to Mr. Braiday's, still accompanied 
by my kind friend, A. Lion, who took tender care of me, 
for I was not able to comb my head, to dress myself, or to 
get in or out of the carriage without much pain, and yet 
I was enabled to preach with strength and freedom." 

From thence he passed on through Newcastle, where he 
held a meeting and witnessed a great display of the power 
::>f God ; but finding himself very feeble from his recent 
wounds, he took a passage by water, and on Tuesday arrived 
safely at New- York, where he remained seven days to re- 
cruit his strength. The ardour of his soul in his Master's 
work would not permit him longer to remain in the city. 
Though still suffering from the effects of his recent bruises, 
he left New- York, in company with a friend, to attend 
some appointments on Long Island, On Tuesday even= 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



2Q3 



ing he preached by candle light in Newtown, and the next 
day at the court house in the town of Hempstead. 

Long Island has become somewhat famous in the his- 
tory of our country, as being the theatre of much indivi- 
dual suffering in consequence of its having been occupied 
for a considerable time by the invading armies of Great 
Britain. But before this event, it was visited by some oi 
the Wesleyan Methodist missionaries. Captain Webb, the 
efficient helper of Mr. Embury in New- York, as early as 
1768, passed over to Long Island, preached in Jamaica, 
Newtown, and some other places, with considerable suc- 
cess, many souls being awakened and converted as seals 
to his ministry. The political troubles, however, which 
soon succeeded these incipient attempts at planting Me- 
thodism in this place, checked its progress for a season , 
and the whole island was almost entirely abandoned, dur- 
ing the war, by ministers of all denominations. On the 
return of peace, in 1783, the way was opened for spread- 
ing the gospel of the grace of God among the people. The 
Rev. Philip Cox was the first regular preacher stationed 
on Long Island. This was in 1784. He found many who 
had not forgotten the preaching of Captain Webb. He 
was succeeded in 1785 by the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, who 
preached extensively on the Island. Many to this day 
remember his zealous efforts with gratitude. In 1786 Mr 
Cooper was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Ware. Great 
attention to the things of religion was excited by these 
men of God. Mr. Ware was followed by the Rev. Messrs, 
Moriarty and Cloud, whose labours were greatly owned of 
God. In 1789, the time Mr. Garrettson visited the island, 
the Rev. Messrs. Phoebus and John Lee were stationed 
there. At this time there were two hundred and twenty- 
four members in the Church in the several societies which 
had been formed.* Mr. Garrettson visited most of the 

*The following account, so illustrative of the particular care 
which God exercises over his people, respecting the introduction of 



204 



LIFE OP THE 



principal places in the Island where the Methodist preach- 
ers could gain access, but says that though he found some 
precious souls who were breathing after God, there was a 

Methodism into the town of Southhold, is related on the best autho- 
rity ; having been taken from the lips of those who were witnesses 
of the facts. 

In 1794 Methodism was brought into Southhold, and the manner 
of its introduction is worthy to be recorded, as it will show the effi- 
cacy of prayer and the peculiar agency of the Holy Spirit in the 
spread of the gospel. A Mrs. Moore, who had been converted to 
God through the instrumentality of the Methodists, removed to this 
place ; and although there were churches and ministers not very 
remote from it, yet no very efficient means had been used to build 
up the cause of God, or to arrest the spread of iniquity. Living at 
too great a distance from that ministry which had been the means 
of her conversion, and finding in her village two females like mind- 
ed with herself, they agreed tomeet together every Monday even- 
ing, to pray that God would send such a minister among them as 
would feed their own souls, and be made the means of awakening 
the wicked inhabitants of the place. They met accordingly two 
evenings at the house of Mr. P. Vail, who, at that time, was not a 
member of any church, but so far favourable as to gratify his wife 
in bringing her female friends to his house for prayer meeting. On 
the third night of their meeting, Mr. V., returning home weary 
from the business of the day, had retired about the time they usually 
met, which rendered it inconvenient to hold it that evening. This 
circumstance almost discouraged them, fearing that it arose from 
his dislike to the exercises, and that they should be deprived of this 
means of grace. However, they agreed to return home, and remem- 
ber individually before God the great object for which they had met 
together. During the exercises of this evening they felt an unusual 
spirit of prayer : Sister Moore in particular, who continued until 
near midnight ; her whole soul was drawn out to the Lord, nor 
could she be denied : the wickedness of the place and the want of 
an engaged ministry were continually before her. At the close of 
this struggle she felt an assurance that God had heard them, at- 
tended with these words, " I have heard their cry, and I am come 
down to deliver them ;" and so strong was this conviction that she 
began to praise God for what she knew he would do. 

At this very time Wilson Lee, a Methodist minister, was in New- 
London, and had his trunk on board a vessel to go to his appoint 
ment in New-York. Waiting for a passage over night, the wind 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



205 



lamentable spirit of indifference to the things of religion 
manifested by most of the people, and a determined oppo- 
sition evinced by others. 

Among other things which have tended to retard the 
progress of Methodism on this island, is the prevalence 
of Quakerism as held and propagated by Elias Hicks, 
Whether his peculiar principles were much developed at 
the time of which we are now speaking, I cannot say, but 
as he was one of the oldest ministers of that society, 
and as he was raised up on Long Island, and devoted much 
of his time to the propagation of his principles, it is highly 
probable that the minds of the people over which he has 
had influence, have been for a long time tinctured, I might 
perhaps say poisoned, with his peculiar notions. It is not 
from hearsay that I assert that he undervalued the sacred 
Scriptures, set aside the proper Deity and atonement of 

being contrary, he felt an unusual struggle for the salvation of souls, 
attended with a constant irrpression to cross the sound to Long 
Island. Never having been there, and having his work in another 
direction, he endeavoured for some time to dismiss it, but perceiv- 
ing that it still followed him, resolved, if his way were opened, to 
proceed It should be observed that his peculiar exercises in New- 
London were on the same night, and almost at the same hour, in 
which these pious females were engaged in prayer on Long Island. 

Next morning on going to the wharf, he found a sloop ready to 
sail for Southhold, and believing his call now to be from the Lord ? 
immediately went on board Making inquiry on his landing if there 
were any praying people in the place, he was immediately directed 
to the house of Mrs Moore, who seeing him coming, and knowing 
a Methodist minister from his appearance, she, without a personal 
acquaintance or previous introduction, came out to the door, and 
said, " Thou blessed of the Lord, come in !" He then told the end 
for which he came, and related the peculiar providence which had 
directed him on his way, and she, in turn, the circumstance of their 
prayer meeting, and the assurance they received that God had 
heard them. A congregation was soon collected, and he who had 
felt such a desire for the salvation of souls, found here a ready peo- 
ple to whom the word of the Lord was attended with power. Shortly 
afterwards a class was formed, and from that period to this Method 
ism has continued in this place, 



206 



LIFE OP THE 



Christ, and openly denounced all other ministers as hire- 
lings, their modes of worship as the offspring of supersti- 
tion, Bible, Missionary, and other benevolent societies as 
mischievous in their design and tendency. These preju- 
dices, to be sure, were mingled with an apparent spirit of 
piety, and a commendable zeal for the operation and in- 
dwelling of the Holy Spirit, thereby facilitating the pro- 
gress of his pernicious errors.* At an early period of the 
settlement of the Island, these people established societies, 
and so far as their influence extended, they presented a 
powerful barrier to the progress of the distinguishing doc- 
trines preached by Mr. Garrettson and his associates. The 
east end and interior of the Island were settled principally 
by emigrants from New-England, most of whom had their 
minds strongly imbued with the peculiarities of the Cal- 
vinistic creed, and were of course averse to those points 
of Methodism which came in contact with unconditional 
election and reprobation. And perhaps there are no peo- 
ple to be found on our continent who manifest a stronger 
tenacity in adhering to the traditions of their fathers than 
the inhabitants of Long Island. To this rigid adherence 
to what they had early been taught, they in general, espe- 
cially in the interior of the Island, join great simplicity 
of manners, an unostentatious show of piety, and great 
economy in their household affairs, together with a regular 
exterior deportment. These appear to have been, and are 
at the present day, the characteristic peculiarities of the 
inhabitants of Long Island. Some of these traits of cha- 
racter are undoubtedly favourable to the reception of the 
gospel, unless when accompanied with a pharisaical right- 
eousness, while some of their tenets are no less unfavour- 
able, The power of God, however, in many places, 
* It is but justice to remark that a great portion of the societies 
of this denomination denounce the peculiarities of Elias Hick? 
and have made strenuous efforts to check the progress of his doc- 
trines. These are now distinguished from him and his followers by 
being called the " Orthodox Friends " 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



207 



accompanied the delivery of his word by the Methodist 
preachers, and made it the instrument of salvation to the 
souls of sinners. 

After the third tour around this district, in which he 
found a gradual spread of the work of God, and increase 
to the several societies which had been formed, Mr. Gar- 
rettson set off to attend " The Council,'' as it was called. 
It seems that in consequence of the great increase of 
preachers, and their extending themselves over so large a 
tract of country, measures had been devised to supersede 
the necessity of their assembling altogether in one place 
annually. It had been the practice of Mr. Wesley from 
the time he commenced calling the preachers together in 
conference, to assemble them once a year in the same 
place. At the beginning of Methodism in this country, 
a similar plan was adopted ; but in consequence of the 
great extent of country over which the preachers spread 
themselves, it was soon found inconvenient for them all to 
convene annually at the same place. To remedy this 
inconvenience several conferences were held in the same 
year, but the acts of one conference were not considered 
binding unless they were sanctioned by them all ; and as 
this could not be generally expected, it was plainly seen 
that this method of doing things tended to the dissolution 
of the body. 

Such was the state of things when it was resolved to 
have a Council. It was to consist of the bishops and pre- 
siding elders, provided that it should never consist of a 
less number than nine. The following members composed 
the first Council, which met in Baltimore the first day of 
December, 1789 : — 

Francis Asbury, bishop ; Philip Bruce, Freeborn Gar- 
rettson, Joseph Everitt, John Dickins, Nelson Reed, Rich- 
ard Ivey, Reuben Ellis, Edward Morris, James O'Kelly, 
Lemuel Green, James O. Cromwell, elders. 

It was soon perceived that this method of conducting 



20S 



LIFE OF THE 



the affairs of the Church was very far from being satisfac- 
tory, and hence the Council assembled only the second 
time. After attending this first Council, Mr. Garrettson 
observes, " I was resolved, God being my helper, to be 
more than ever engaged in the blessed work of God, it 
being my earnest prayer that the flame in the north might 
equal what I had witnessed in the south. On my return 
I felt something of it in Philadelphia, and when I came to 
New-York, I preached with an enlargement of soul which 
I had never before experienced in that city. I believed 
that the brethren would have glorious times, and so it 
came to pass, for in a few days after I left the city a most 
gracious work commenced first in a prayer meeting, ex- 
tending itself to the congregation ; and I saw and felt 
something of the same flame in many places on the dis- 
trict, in my winter visitations." 

Soon after this Mr. Garrettson set off on a tour through 
some parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts on his way 
to Boston. In order to show the diligence and zeal with 
which he usually discharged his duty, and the manner in 
which he was received in this part of the country, the fol- 
lowing extracts from his journal are given : — 

" Having stayed a few days in the city, on Wednesday, 
June the 2d, accompanied by Harry who is to travel with 
me this summer, I rode as far as Miles's Square, and preach- 
ed to more people than could get into the house. In the 
evening I rode to brother M.'s, at East Chester, and felt 
myself not so much drawn out as I could have wished. 

" Thursday 3d, the appointment was in New Rochelle 
church, where I preached from, i O my dove which art in 
the clefts of the rock,' &c. I had a degree of freedom 
while comparing the Church to a dove ; but more while 
speaking of the rock and the secret places of the stairs ; 
and when I came to speak on the latter part of the text, 
c Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice ; for 
sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely,' I 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



209 



was much drawn out, and a small moving ran through the 
people. In the evening I retired to brother S.'s and was 
very comfortable in a kind family, and blessed be God I 
felt my soul somewhat refreshed. 

" Friday 4th, we had a solemn meeting at the Plains* 
Though it was a wet day many came to hear the word ; 
and gave great attention. My mind is sweetly drawn to 
love the ways of the Lord. I found great freedom to de- 
3cribe the pure in heart. 

"Saturday 5th, we met in King-street: more people 
gathered than the house could contain, and I found great 
enlargement in speaking. Harry exhorted after me to the 
admiration of the people. When I came into the house I 
found a man extremely ill with the colic. I ordered him 
to drink a pint of cold water, and he was relieved in less 
than three minutes. I returned to Brother C.'s and was 
very comfortable. 

" On the Lord's day we met in North Castle church* 
where I was surrounded by a listening multitude while I 
explained, ' A King shall reign in righteousness/ &c. I 
found great freedom to speak the word, and we had much 
of the divine presence. Again in the afternoon I was ena- 
bled to expatiate on Matt, xxii, 12, ' Friend, how earnest 
thou hither not having on a wedding garment ?' I think 
there were more people than I had ever seen together in 
this place. I suppose Bedford court house would not have 
contained half the people, so that I was obliged to stand under 
the trees: many of the rougher kind of people attended, 
some of whom did not behave very orderly. It is not com- 
mon to be threatened with stoning in this country ; the 
children of the devil would threaten a long time before they 
would venture on such a work, for the laws are very strict 
and the grearer part of the people favour religion. In the 
evening I retired to brother L.'s, and I trust enjoyed the 
company of my blessed Master. 

" Monday 7th, preached at brother B/s in the manor 
19 



210 



LIFE OF THE 



to a crowded audience from, ' All Scripture is given by 
inspiration of God/ &c. I had great liberty to point out 
the benefit of our glorious dispensation. Our dear Lord 
owned his blessed word, and my spirit did rejoice in God 
my Saviour. 

" Thursday 8th, many more came together at brother 
H.'s than could crowd into the house: we had a joyful 
season ; my own spirit is filled with sweetness. The peo- 
ple of this circuit are amazingly fond of hearing Harry. 

" Wednesday 9th, I rode to Sing Sing and had an at- 
tentive audience while I enforced, 1 Now the just shall live 
by faith,' &,c. I have not preached a sermon with more 
sweetness since I left New-York. In the afternoon, at 
General Van Courtland's, near Croton river, I had great 
comfort while declaring, 6 It is God that justifieth, who 
is he that condemneth?' 

" Thursday 10th, though a wet day, the church at ■ 
was well filled and I had much pleasure in describing the 
walk and prosperity of the blessed man, Psalm i, 1,2, 3, 
and in the afternoon the old English church was nearly 
filled. I showed that, ' He that is born of God doth not 
commit sin/ &c. Harry, though it was a heavy cross, ex- 
horted afterwards. I lodged at the old governor's, where 
I was comfortable with a kind family. The governor was 
gone far to the west to make a treaty with the Indians. 

" I highly approve of the conduct of our statesmen re- 
specting the poor Indians. On the frontiers of other states 
they encroach on the Indians' property ; here they have 
made a large purchase from them, and it is a rare thing 
to hear of an Indian's killing a white person. 

" Friday 11th, I rode over the highlands and at three 
o'clock preached to a large congregation among the 
mountains: in this place our gracious Lord has raised 
many from the dead. I felt my heart much alive among 
the people while I explained St. John's advice to and ac- 
count of the church of Philadelphia. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



211 



£i Sunday 13th, our horses gave us the slip, so that we 
had to send five miles after them, and just as I was deter- 
mining to set out on foot the man brought them to the 
door. We got to the place in good time ; but the day was 
very wet and the house so very leaky that we had a dis- 
agreeable time at Fishkill. In this place the Lord hath 
given us a few good souls, and I trust that we shall have 
a precious gathering. 

e ■ Monday, early in the morning we set out and called on 
the son of the widow at whose house preaching was the 
day before : he was in deep distress of soul, and I trust it 
will not be long before he shall be set at liberty. In the 
afternoon I preached to a crowd of people from Ezekiel's 
vision of the dry bones, and I trust there was a shaking 
among the people who came from almost all parts of 
Oswego, some perhaps from curiosity to hear Harry. 

"Tuesday 15th, I had but a small congregation assem- 
bled in a barn at a new place among the Presbyterians : 
the next day I preached at Rhinebeck, and spent the day 
following comfortably with my old friend, R. Sands, Esq. 

"Friday 18th, I advanced toward the Cold spring, 
and preached at my good friend Rowe's from, ' Loose him 
and let him go.' Spent an hour with Dr. Bartlett and had 
a comfortable meeting at Mr. Lewis's. Jesus is precious 
to me; his ways are delightful. 

"Saturday 19th, I rode to Mr. Herrick's, where I 
preached in the afternoon. I had great freedom to preach 
from ' In hell he lifted up his eyes/ &c. Harry exhorted 
after me with much freedom. 

" June 20th. This day I was met by a Churchman who 
desired me to come and pray with his family : I did so with 
freedom ; then rode on to Sharon, where I preached to 
about one thousand people under the trees from, ' O my 
dove, thou art in the clefts of the rock,' &c. I was much 
^ravvn out and great attention was paid to the word. The 



212 



LIFE OF THE 



devil strives very hard to hinder the spreading of the'gos* 
pel in this town : but blessed be God, many are under 
awakenings and I think the kingdom of Satan will be 
greatly shaken. 

"Monday 21st. This was a day of great trial to me 
arising from a very plausible story told of one who I believe 
was entirely innocent of the charge. My heart was pained 
within me, but I could not convince those who were the 
accusers of his innocence. In the afternoon I was obliged 
to preach in the open air again for want of room in the 
house. 

" 22d. This morning I called a few together and exa- 
mined into that strange affair, and am convinced of the 
innocence of the accused. I rode about fifteen miles and 
preached in the Presbyterian meeting house to some 
hundreds from, 6 If the righteous scarcely be saved, where 
shall the ungodly and sinner appear/ It is encouraging 
to see such hearers affected under the w r ord. I am inform- 
ed that when I preached in this meeting house last spring 
Mr. G., who was one of my hearers, was very much touch- 
ed, and a few weeks ago died a penitent. I have great hope 
for the people of this town. I had a comfortable time at 
R , Esq., who has a friendship for us. 

" Wednesday 23d, I rode about twelve miles to Litch* 
field, and was surprised to find the doors of the Episcopal 
church open and a large congregation waiting for me. I 
preached from, ' Enoch walked with God/ and I believe 
good was done. I left Harry to preach another sermon and 
went on to the centre of the town ; the bell rang and I 
preached to a few in the Presbyterian meeting house, and 
lodged with a kind Churchman. 

" I preached in the skirts of the town where I was op- 
posed by who made a great disturbance. I told him 

the enemy had sent him to pick up the good seed, turned 
my back on him, and went on my way accompanied by 
brother W, and H. where I found another waiting com- 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



21B 



pany, in another part of the town, to whom I declared, 
' Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.' In this 
town we have given the devil and the wicked much trou- 
ble ; we have a few good friends. 

" Friday 25th, we rode fourteen miles through the rain, 
many people gathered, and I found freedom to declare, * If 
we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves several 
were in tears, and there was a shaking arriong the people. 
The squire and several other Calvinists came out to con- 
verse on the disputed points of unconditional election and 
reprobation, the freedom of the will, and the perseverance 
of the saints. I had to discourse with them until nearly 
midnight, and I believe some of them were much shaken. 
We have hard work to plant what they call Arminianism 
in this county : we stand in need of the wisdom of the 
serpent and the harmlessness of the dove. 

" Saturday 26th, I rode a few miles and preached to a 
company of people assembled in a barn ; my text was, 6 But 
deliver us from evil.' I had a considerable degree of free- 
dom in enforcing the necessity of being delivered from all 
sin ; some believed it and some did not ; among the rest 
one good old man who came a considerable distance on 
foot, said the Lord is with us and I am satisfied. A few 
weeks ago he was a warm pleader for the unconditional 
decrees ; but now he sees differently. 

" Sunday 27th, I preached in Farmington to about three 
hundred people, and had great freedom in showing that 
Christ tasted death for every man, and that as the way was 
open, if they did not repent they would justly be damned. 
There are a few precious souls here who cleave to our 
doctrine and have united to our society. 

" 28th, we set out for 'Boston, rode fifteen miles, stop- 
ped at Hartford, and preached in the court house to five 
or six hundred people, who seemed to give great heed 
to the words which were spoken : while Harry gave an 
exhortation some rude people behaved very uncivilly. The 

19* 



214 



LIFE OF THE 



two following days we travelled and arrived at Worcester 
about four o'clock, where I was kindly entertained by 
Mr. Chanler, but the people appeared to have a small 
share of religion : I went from one end of the town to the 
other and could get no one to open the court house and 
gather the people. I went to the house of the Rev. Mr. 

B . I was asked to take tea. I drew near, and 

inquired if it was not customary to ask a blessing ? 
No, said he, not over tea : I then drew back from the 
table : his countenance changed, and he said in a very 
short manner, 1 You may ask a blessing over your dish.' 
Pinching want might drive me to eat and drink in such 
a case. I had an hour's conversation with him. It is 
lamentable for masters in Israel to deny the power of 
religion. 

"Tuesday, July 1st, we rode through a very pleasant 
country ; I never saw more elegant buildings in a country 
place than those that surround Cambridge, and the col- 
lege has an imposing appearance. I got into Boston, 
about seven o'clock, after riding forty-eight miles. I 
boarded Harry at the master Mason for the Africans, and 
I took my own lodgings with a private gentleman, who had 
been a Methodist in England, but has, I fear, fallen from 
the spirit of Methodism. 

" Sunday 4th, I attended church in the morning, and 
gave great uneasiness to the people with whom I lodged 
on account of my not communing. I never in my life saw 
such a set of communicants, dressed in the height of the 
mode, and with all the frippery of fashion — so much of 
the world in their manners and appearance that my mind 
was most easy to look on. In the afternoon I preached 
in a meeting house which had formerly belonged to Dr 
Mather. Monday evening likewise in the same place. 
Tuesday I went from end to end of the town and visited 
several who were friendly, a few of whom were formerly 
Methodists, but I fear they are not such in practice, I 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



215 



engaged the use of the meeting house, and a place for a 
preacher to board, and on Wednesday set out for Provi- 
dence. I had rode but about thirty miles when I met 
brother Lee, and while we were sitting on our horses talk- 
ing, an old gentleman rode up and asked us to go to his 
house and preach that night : we went and had a comfort- 
able meeting, and I also preached the next morning : 
after dinner we parted ; brother Lee consented to go to 
Boston and make a trial there until I could send another 
preacher. I reached Providence about five o'clock ; the 
bell rang, and I had an opportunity of preaching in good 
old Mr. Snow's meeting house. 

" Friday 9th, I had a sweet time in retirement, and in 
the evening addressed a larger congregation than I had 
the night before. 

" Sunday 1 Lth, with freedom I preached in the morning 
at six o'clock. I officiated all day for good Mr. Snow, and 
at six Harry preached in the meeting house to more than 
one thousand people. I appointed to preach the next morn- 
ing at five o'clock, and I suppose three hundred people 
attended to hear my last sermon. I had a sweet time in 
Providence. I have no doubt but the Lord begun a good 
work in many hearts. I left many in tears. I left town 
about nine o'clock, rode about thirty-five miles, and lodged 

at Colonel P 's, whom I found to be a very kind man, 

and I trust the family were stirred up: the daughter 
seemed to be much affected. 

"Tuesday 13th, I rode forty-five miles to Hartford, and 
preached the next evening to as ill behaved an audience 
as I have ever seen in New-England. The people of 
this place, with a few exceptions, seem to be fast asleep 
in the arms of the wicked one. The following night I 
preached again, and some of what are called the gentry 
behaved so ill that I was under the necessity of breaking 
up the meeting and declining to preach by candle light. 

" Sunday 18th, I preached again in the state house, to 



216 



LIFE OF THE 



a few who gave attention. I rode to Weathersfield and 
preached at eleven o'clock, and likewise at two o'clock, 
and then returned and preached at Hartford at five o'clock 
to about two hundred people. I am apprehensive from 
the state of religion in this place that the ministers do 
not enjoy the life and power of religion ; they seem to be 
so smoothed over that they cannot with any degree of 
patience bear to hear of the carnal mind, or any mention 
of hell. 

" Thursday, I preached with freedom at Farmington, 
and on Tuesday morning I gave an exhortation on the 
subject of baptism, and baptized fourteen adults and chil- 
dren, and we had a sweet time, and then rode to Litch- 
field and preached to a serious company. I have no 
doubt that the Lord has begun a good work in this town, 

Brother W is a very acceptable preacher in this new 

circuit, and the Lord owns his labours. 

" I lodged at Mr. O 's, and had a long conversation 

with him and his brother, who related a very singular 
circumstance, which was as follows: — The brother (as 
they both informed me) was intended for a Presbyterian 
minister ; he had gone through his course of study, and 
as a probationer he had begun to preach, and I doubt not 
from what he informed me but that he was acquainted 
with inward religion. He fancied that if he was called 
to preach the Lord would endue him with a gift of mira- 
cles, and he concluded that he would preach no more until 
he obtained that gift. He began to fast, and after he had 
fasted eight or nine days, ministers, people, and physi- 
cians came around him, telling him that he would shortly 
be a dead man unless he took some nourishment — at 
another time they endeavoured to force him to eat, but to 
no purpose. He told me that he did not eat a mouthful 
of victuals during forty days, and only drank water and a 
few times a little small beer. He likewise told me that 
nothing went through his body for forty days. His bro- 



REV. F. GARRETTS ON , 



217 



iher, who I trust is a man who fears the Lord, professed 
to be an eye witness of the truth of this statement ; he 
was with him most of the time, and said that during the 
forty days he did as much work as he himself was able 
to do, who eat four or five times a day. When we would 
come in from work, said he, he would take nothing but a 
little water or a little small beer, and then go to work 
again. From the tenth to the nineteenth day of his fast, 
he seemed somewhat feeble, but after that he grew strong 
and looked nearly as fresh and well as he ever did, and 
continued to labour hard during that time : after the forty 
days were ended, he eat as hearty as usual, and found no 
injury from it, though the physicians warned him that in 
so doing he risked his life. Before this he was much 
exercised about the doctrines peculiar to Calvinism, and 
had renounced them. When I saw him I found him a 
believer in the same system of free salvation which the 
Methodists hold out, and he has begun boldly to preach 
again. 

" Saturday I rode as far as Cornwall, and preached at 
Squire Rogers's. I found that the Lord had begun a bless- 
ed work in this town when I preached here before, so I 
rode to Canaan, where I was comfortable. 

"Sunday 25th, I preached in Canaan to about five 
hundred people, from Matt, xxv, 14, 15, the parable of 
the talents. The Lord was with us : the work in this 
place is moving on. I have circulated a subscription for 
the building of a church here. Brother Bloodgood was 
with me ; as it was too warm in the house I preached in 
the open air. Harry preached after me with much ap- 
plause. I rode in the afternoon and preached in Salis- 
bury, in a part of the town in which I had never before 
preached, and I think I have never seen so tender a meet- 
ing in this town before, for a general weeping ran through 
the assembly, especially while Harry gave an exhortation 
The Lord is carrying on a blessed work in this town, 



218 



LIFE OF THE 



" Monday, July 26th, I preached on the whole armour 
of God, with freedom, and in the afternoon at brother 
Haywood's from, ' If our gospel be hid it is hid to them 
that are lost.' One careless woman was brought under 
concern, so that shortly after she went home she returned 
and opened to me the state of her mind, and appeared to 
be in great distress indeed. 

" Tuesday, July 27th, between two huge mountains the 
morning appeared very beautiful, and I was very much 
delighted with the prospect when the natural sun had 
arisen and illuminated the earth with his bright beams, 
but one much brighter Sun doth arise to cheer the mind, 
even the Sun of righteousness. At four o'clock I preach* 
ed on another beautiful mountain, in a Presbyterian meet- 
ing house, to about three hundred people who gave heed 
to the things spoken. The people on this mountain are 
so far convinced that they appear to receive the gospel. 
When we first came to this mountain the people were 
much prejudiced, but are now more reconciled, and there 
is a prospect of a society. 

" Wednesday, July 28th, I had a sweet time at the fur- 
nace, and sent on Harry to supply my afternoon's appoint- 
ment. I rode twelve miles with two disciples, and had 
an opportunity to see a distressed woman, Mrs. L- — n, 
who has almost lost her reason. I endeavoured to con- 
verse with her, but I was too late. They are very much 
engaged to give her medical aid, but a revelation of the 
love and favour of God alone can relieve her. 

"July 29th, I rode to Hudson, where I found the 
people, very curious to hear Harry. I therefore declined 
preaching that their curiosity might be satisfied. The 
different denominations heard him with much admiration, 
and the Quakers thought that as he was unlearned he 
must preach by immediate inspiration. 

" Friday 30th, 1 spent part of the day in planning a new 
church in this city, and in the evening preached to several 



REV. F. GARRBTTSON, 



219 



hundred people with considerable freedom from, 1 Him that 
honoureth me I will honour/ &c, and I think I never wit- 
nessed a more solemn time in this place. The people of 
this city drive away their convictions by the love of the 
world. I have frequently seen fine prospects here which 
were soon gone. 

" Saturday 31st, crossed the North river, rode twelve 
miles, and preached among the mountains. The Lord is 
deepening his work among these poor people. The soci- 
ety is young, but growing." 

In the month of October he attended the conference in 
the city of New- York. 

We may form some idea of the extent and usefulness 
of the labours of Mr Garrettson and those associated with 
him, from the fact that there had been an increase of two 
thousand five hundred and forty-seven church members 
during the three years of hard toil in this part of the 
country. When he commenced his labours here in 1788 
there were only four circuits, namely, New- York, Loag 
Island, New Rochelle, and Dutchess; but in 1791 there 
were twelve circuits, namely, New- York, Long Island, 
New Rochelle, Dutchess, Columbia, New Britain, Cam- 
bridge, Albany, Saratoga, Otsego, Newburg, and Wyo- 
ming. This one district at that time comprehended nearly 
the whole territory now included in the New- York con- 
ference, consisting of seven districts, numbering eighty 
circuits and stations, and one hundred and sixty-three 
effective preachers. 

By this estimate those who now come among us may see 
what their fathers in the gospel had to encounter, the 
immense labours they performed, and the consequent 
privations they must have endured, as well as the asto- 
nishing success which accompanied their exertions in the 
cause of their Master, 



220 



LIFE OF THE 



CHAPTER XIV. 

End of the printed journal— Division of his district — Visits Alba- 
ay — Meets with Bishop Asbury — Attends Conference— His testi= 
mony of Bishop Asbury's excellences — Account of the Shakers — 
Tour into the new settlements — State of the country — Work of 
God revives — Providential escape from danger — Visits the eastern 
part of his district — Meets Bishop Asbury, and converses with him 
on church government — Attends general Conference in Baltimore 
—Mr. O'Kelly's division— Its effects— Visits his friends in Mary- 
land — Returns to New- York — Passes through his district — His 
marriage. 

The printed journal of Mr. Garrettson, by which I 
have been so much assisted thus far, ends with the con- 
tents of the preceding chapter ; and his manuscripts from 
this period are not very voluminous, although he continued 
occasional notices of the exercises of his mind, as well as 
of his public labours. From these and from other docu- 
ments within reach, I shall endeavour to fill up the re- 
mainder of the years of his devoted life — devoted exclu- 
sively to the best of all causes, the cause of man's salvation. 

At the conference of 1791, the district over which Mr. 
Garrettson had presided with so much honour to himself 
and usefulness to others, was divided into two : the south- 
ern part, including Newburg, Wyoming, New- York, New 
Rochelle and Long Island circuits, was placed under the 
oversight of the Rev. Robert Cloud ; Dutchess, Columbia. 
New Britain, Cambridge, Albany, Saratoga, and Otsego, 
formed the district of Mr. Garrettson. On the 11th of 
June he arrived in the city of Albany, found the labours 
of the preacher had been much blessed, and that he had 
succeeded in erecting a house of worship, which Mr. Gar- 
rettson dedicated to the service of Almighty God ; after 
which, in company with the preacher, he went through 
?he city from house to house, soliciting contributions to 



REV, F. GARRETTSON. 



221 



aid in paying for their newly-built house. They collected, 
however, in the whole, only forty pounds or one hundred 
dollars. From Albany he travelled west as far as Johns- 
town, where he contracted for a lot of ground and engaged 
the workmen to build a house of worship. 

In consequence of the division of his district, Mr. Gar- 
rettson was enabled to fill up more of the intermediate 
places, and to spend more time in regulating the societies 
and setting things in order. Having done all he could 
for the " little flock" in Johnstown, he returned to Albany, 
and from thence passed on to Hudson, and visited the 
western part of Connecticut, preaching in all the towns 
through which he passed where he could obtain a place to 
preach in until he came to Farmington, where he met 
Bishop Asbury. 

From the time Mr. Asbury had been consecrated to the 
office of a bishop, according to the rules of the Discipline, 
he had travelled at large through the country, meeting the 
preachers in their several conferences at times and places 
most convenient for them and advantageous to the work 
in which they were engaged. It was customary when he 
came within the bounds of a presiding elder's district, for 
the elder to accompany him from place to place, that from 
a personal inspection of the work, he might be able to 
oversee the whole to the better advantage. And this 
personal and efficient superintendency devolved prin- 
cipally upon Bishop Asbury, as Dr. Coke, though denomi- 
nated a joint superintendent with him, was generally in 
Europe during the interval of the conferences. To Bishop 
Asbury, therefore, the preachers looked for direction in 
all important matters, and next to him to the presiding 
elders of the districts. At this time Mr. Asbury came into 
this district, and accompanied Mr. Garrettson through 
Litchfield and Cornwall to Canaan, where they held a 
quarterly meeting, and thence to Albany, where Mr. As* 
bury preached five times in the new meeting house. Here 

20 



222 LIFE OP THE 

the preachers assembled and " held," says Mr. Garrettson, 
" a little conference/' and one of the brethren was set 
apart to the office of a deacon. From thence they " tra- 
velled through Coeyman's, Hudson, Rhinebeck, and Nine 
Partners, and on Saturday and Sunday held a quarterly 
meeting not far from Oblong, where a vast concourse of 
people assembled, so that the meeting house, though large, 
would not contain one third of the people ; they therefore 
withdrew to the woods, and many seemed to receive the 
word with joy." From thence they went on south to Peeks- 
kill and lodged at Governor Courtlandt's. Jn the " morn- 
ing," says Mr. Garrettson, " I was under the necessity of 
parting with Bishop Asbury. We had had a pleasant time 
together, and I felt a continual calm in my soul, and could 
not leave him without reluctance. I am satisfied that he 
possesses the qualifications of a primitive bishop." This 
testimony to the qualifications of Mr. Asbury as a bishop 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church is the more valuable 
as it comes from one who had been for a considerable 
time his intimate friend, had frequently heard him preach, 
been in his private and public councils, and who knew 
how to estimate true worth of character. And it is no 
little recommendation of Mr. Garrettson that such a man 
as Bishop Asbury reposed the most unlimited confidence 
in his integrity and faithfulness in the cause of his divine 
Master. 

Mr. Garrettson continued his itinerary visits through his 
district, often cheered by crowded congregations hanging 
upon his lips for instruction, and sometimes depressed by 
the indifference with which the word was received. On 
Monday, Sept. 3, he entered the state of Massachusetts, 
and met Mr. Robert Green, one of the preachers who tra- 
velled on the Albany circuit, and found the commence- 
ment of a glorious work of religion in that part of the 
w country. 

The faithful minister of Jesus Christ who has proclaim- 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



223 



ed an irreconcilable war against sin and Satan, will very 
much deceive himself if he thinks to pass on smoothly 
without opposition from his grand adversary. Not only are 
the wicked and the openly profane leagued against him, 
but also the merely formal professor, as well as all those 
whose peculiarities of belief are brought into contact with 
the pure truths of the gospel. Among other evils in our 
country, where an unrestrained liberty of thought and 
action in religious matters is guaranteed to its citizens^ 
numerous heresies, some of the most wild and extravagant 
nature, have sprung up and thriven as in a luxuriant soil. 
These, often more destructive in their consequences than 
an undisguised opposition to the gospel, are to be encoun- 
tered, their influence as far as possible counteracted, that 
those who are carried away by their fatal delusions may 
be reclaimed to the " good and right way." Among others 
by which the age has been distinguished, and in many 
instances disgraced, is that of Shakerism. Though quite 
local in its character and influence, it has been considered 
of sufficient importance to be noticed in the records of the 
day as a distinct denomination. This spurious offspring 
of an adulterated Christianity, has deluded and blinded 
the minds of a very cosniderable number of our citizens, 
and ought doubtless to be stamped with a seal of disap- 
probation by all sober-minded and orthodox Christians. 

These remarks have arisen from the following notice 
of this deluded sect by Mr. Garrettson, under date of Sep- 
tember 3 : " I met a sensible man who had been a Shaker, 
but has left them and joined us. Of this person I received 
the most full and satisfactory account of the people called 
Shakers that I have ever had. I had been at a loss to 
know how or from whence they sprang. He tells me they 
are the relics of Bell, who was formerly a Methodist 
preacher in England, but was excommunicated by Mr. 
Wesley for his enthusiastic notions. He held to our being 
as perfect as angels 3 or as Adam was in paradise ; and was 



224 



LIFE OF THE 



so wild as to prophesy that on such a day a part of Lon= 
don should be destroyed, to the great harm of thousands 
in that city. Once he was a man of great faith; but 
where is poor deluded Bell now ! His followers were dis- 
persed, and after a time a few of them came over and 
settled at Niskayuna, where they remained peaceably for 
some time, until the mother, as she was called, Ann Lee, 
professed to pass through an uncommon change ; and a 
few entered upon their new work, which consisted mostly 
in dancing, shaking, turning round, and talking, as they 
call it, in the unknown tongues. This new system was 
for a time carried on with great rapidity, so that persons 
of respectability joined them, and among the rest several 
ministers. I have conversed with several sensible men 
who have left them, who told me that while among them 
they hated every thing they thought to be sinful, and verily 
thought they were doing right." 

The following extracts from his journal will show the 
progress of the gospel in some of the new settlements on 
the west side of the Hudson river. 

" Saturday, Sept. 24, I left Albany and attended a 
quarterly meeting at Captain Groosbeck's twenty miles to 
the north. I found great freedom to speak. Several of 
the preachers spoke feelingly and freely. 

"Sunday 25th, our lovefeast began at nine o'clock, 
Several of our friends spoke their experience well. One 
of our pious sisters gave the following account : — e I was 
convinced all was not well with me ; but knew not what 
I wanted, (this was previous to hearing the Methodists.) 
One day I took my Bible and went into the woods to read 
and seek the Lord. I sat down under a large tree, and 
was reading and weeping, and desirous to know what I 
should do to be saved: I at length listened and heard a 
voice saying unto me, Remove from that place. I knew 
not but it might be imagination, and read on till I heard 
it again a second and a third time. I at length removed 



REV. P. GARRETTSON* 



225 



from the place and sat down about twenty feet off. No 
sooner had I done this than a part of the tree fell on the 
place where I had been sitting. I looked up and saw the 
hand of God in my preservation, and was enabled to look 
to my blessed Redeemer, and he gave me to know that all 
my sins were blotted out, and I returned to the hoHse 
happy in the Lord. After this I had the pleasure of cast- 
ing in my lot among the Methodists, and I feel thankful 
to the Lord, and am now happy in the love of God.' I 
preached after the lovefeast on St. John's account of the 
Laodiceans, for I feared they were in a lukewarm state. 
After meeting ended we settled a dispute between two 
brethren, and I trust some are brought to mourn on ac- 
count of their backsliding. 

" Monday 26th, I crossed the North river accompanied 
by brother C c, and preached at Newtown, and admi- 
nistered the sacrament. I had a sweet season, and consi- 
derable enlargement in the society by the instrumentality 
of brother Candle. I rode ten or twelve miles to Saratoga, 
where I was to preach at four o'clock, but could not begin 
till five : the congregation was so numerous that the house 
would not contain them ; so I preached under a tree with 
great freedom. I had several of the settled clergy to hear. 
On the whole we had a weeping time. I was much 
pleased with the good behaviour of the people. By can- 
dle light I administered the sacrament to nearly twenty 
of our young converts, and as many waited to see it as 
could crowd in, and we had a happy and an affecting time. 
I feel myself happy among the poor children of God. 

" Tuesday 27th, I was to preach at Fish creek : a man 
met us in the road. 'Stop, sir,' said he, c and clear up 
one thing. Is it right for you to part man and wife? My 
wife joined your church last night. We are par.ted, we 
are parted !' The woman was in a flood of tears, and he 
raving like a madman. We passed along, and I preached 
again to upwards of two hundred, and communed with a 

20* 



226 LIFE OF THE 

few of our young converts. The people in this place seem 
as hard as rocks. I lodged at the house of a kind friend* 
and had some conversation with a religiously disposed 
Presbyterian. 

" Wednesday 28th, we rode to Saratoga springs, where 
1 preached. The larger part of the congregation behaved 
well, but some were rude. This was a mixed company 
from different parts of the union. In the afternoon I 
preached at Cadersoy's creek, and was much discomposed 
by noisy children. I stand in need of patience. O God ! 
give every grace of thy Holy Spirit. 

" Thursday 29th. This morning my mind is comforta- 
ble in the Lord. I travelled about twenty miles through 
a country thinly inhabited, the road new and exceedingly 
bad, to Broadalbin, where I had an opportunity of preach- 
ing to a well-behaved congregation, part of whom had 
moved from Rhode Island. Among the rest I met with 
Mr. Snow, son of the Rev. Mr. Snow of Providence, at 
whose house I preached. He emulates the piety of his 
good old father. In this place we have a growing society. 
Among them my spirit was much refreshed. 

" Friday 30th, I rode to Mayfield, a town settled since 
the revolution. When in this place four months since I 
was much encouraged ; but they, appear to be greatly re- 
tarded in the race. O ! the world and the sublunary things 
thereof are a great hindrance to vital piety. 

u Saturday 31st, I rode to Johnstown. In time of 
preachiag the children made much disturbance. After 
sermon two of our brethren exhorted. About four months 
ago I visited this town, agreed for a lot, and encouraged 
our few friends to build the Lord a house, which is now 
in order for worship. 

" Sunday, Nov. 1st. As it was quarter day, as many 
people came together as our new building would contain, 
made up of a variety of denominations : I preached from, 
' Now the end of the commandment is charity, out of a 
pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned.' ,? 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 



227 



In 1792 we find him travelling over the same ground, 
and extending his labours even further west. The prin- 
cipal part of the country, after going a short distance from 
the banks of the Hudson, at this time was but recently 
settled ; the people, though industrious, were generally 
poor, living in log houses, enjoying merely the necessaries 
of life. On this account the preachers who first visited 
them were subjected to privations and inconveniences to 
which those who have since " entered into their labours" 
are strangers. How often have the pioneers in the gospel 
field been found to preach, eat, and sleep in the same 
room, live on the coarsest fare, and at their quarterly 
meetings either assemble in a barn or in a grove ! In the 
warm season of the year, however, it is not unpleasant 
to worship Him who " hangeth the earth upon nothing 
and stretcheth the north over the empty space' ' under 
the foliage of a pleasant grove. 

On the last of June Mr. Garrettson held a quarterly 
meeting at Broadalbin, and on the second day of the 
meeting, July 1, he says that about four hundred people 
assembled, and they had a moving profitable time : — 
i{ There were," says he, " a large number at the com- 
munion, and many, I trust, will bless God in eternity for 
this day. We lodged at the house of brother Snow, son 
of the Rev. Mr. Snow of Providence, R. I., before men- 
tioned, and I am happy to add that I think the son emu- 
lates his pious father. I am much pleased with the peo- 
ple of this town, as they appear well disposed, and the 
Lord is carrying on a glorious work among them. It is 
not enough for me, O my God ! to bear a public testimony 
to the truth, and to labour heartily and cheerfully in thy 
vineyard : I must be holy or I cannot have a seat in thy 
kingdom." 

It was in this spirit of ardent devotion, with his mind 
constantly bent and all his powers of soul and body con- 
secrated to the advancement of the Redeemer's glory, that 



228 



LIFE OF THE 



Mr. Garrettson pursued his way through this newly-settled 
country, encouraging the hearts and strengthening the 
hands of his junior brethren in the ministry, as well as dis- 
pensing the word of life to all whom he could reach with 
the sound of his voice. After he returned to the city of 
Albany, a place of great spiritual dearth, though much of 
his labour had been bestowed upon it, he was cheered 
with the following intelligence from the preacher who had 
charge of the societies where he had preached the preced- 
ing Wednesday and Thursday near old Schoharie : " The 
day after you left us I began to visit from house to house. 
Many in deep distress followed me, and cried aloud for 
mercy, so that before we went to rest ten souls were set at 
liberty." Soon after another letter from the same person 
and place informed him that " the blessed work was going 
on, and that twenty souls had found, peace with God.' 5 
On recording this joyful news, he exclaims, " O Albany ! 
when will God arise in power and shake thy dry bones ! 
Gracious God ! thou canst work and none can hinder." 

On Monday he left Albany to attend some appointments 
on his district, when, " on crossing a creek," says he, 
" my horse suddenly plunged into a deep hole entirely 
over his head in water ; but though I was much wet, I 
was brought through unhurt ; and after travelling upwards 
of twenty miles, I was abundantly compensated by those 
refreshing streams of which the world knows not, while 
preaching to a company of the poor gathered from their 
cottages. This to me is much sweeter employment than 
to dwell at ease in affluence, while the poor are perishing 
for lack of knowledge. O that all the ministers of God 
would consider this and carefully look after Chrises sheep 
in the wilderness." In this tour around his district he 
extended his labours still further into the new settlements, 
and derived great satisfaction from witnessing the blessed 
effects of those faithful preachers over whom he watched 
with paternal tenderness and care, and whose assurance 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



229 



of a divine call to this important work was rendered still 
more satisfactory in the awakening and conversion of 
souls. To satisfy himself more fully respecting their quali- 
fications and call to this work, he tells us that he " took 
particular pains to examine them, as well as to hear them 
preach as often as practicable ; and also to give them those 
cautions and directions which I considered suitable and 
necessary ; for which many of them manifest their thank- 
fulness." After traversing through several parts of this 
new country, and witnessing the blessed effects of their 
ministrations, he says, " God will do a great work in this 
country." How prophetic ! Since that time the blessed 
work has spread through all this western country to the 
lakes, and into Upper and Lower Canada. 

Under date of Saturday 28th, he gives the following 
remarkable account : — " On looking back I see the hand 
of a good God in my preservation last Thursday. I came 

to Mr. weary and thirsty. I asked for something 

to drink, and my kind friend's wife went to fetch it ; after 
staying about fifteen minutes she returned with some small 
beer : as she advanced toward me I was as sensibly im- 
pressed as if some one had told me, That woman is not 
too good to put poison in the drink. As I was putting it 
to my lips the same impression was so strong, that imme- 
diately I refused, and put it d@wn on the table untouched . 
Shortly after dinner was brought on the table ; but I could 
eat very little. The next morning she poisoned her hus- 
band and two others with the meat which had been set 
before me. I was informed not long since that she had 

said she would put an end to all the d d Methodists. 

A skilful physician was at hand, or in all probability they 
would have lost their lives. She was immediately sent to 
the jail in Albany." 

He then came to Rhinebeck, where he enjoyed sweet 
consolation in communion with God in secret, and with 
his Christian friends. Thence he passed on through the 



230 



LIFE OF THE 



eastern part of York state into Connecticut and Massachu- 
setts to Pittsfield, where he had the pleasure of again meet- 
ing Bishop Asbury, as he was returning from the confer- 
ence at Lynn, Mass. " I can truly say," observes Mr. 
Garrettson, " I was never more happy to see him." They 
then went in company to Albany, where the preachers in 
these parts, twenty in number, were assembling for con- 
ference, which was opened on Wednesday 15th, by Bishop 
Asbury, " with an excellent sermon." This conference, 
it seems, was attended with much of the presence of God, 
and the preachers went to their several stations with glad 
hearts and renewed courage, knowing their work was 
with God. 

From this conference he accompanied Bishop Asbury 
to Rhinebeck, where he had the happiness of hearing him 
preach a " very useful sermon." On the way Mr. Garrett- 
son says, " we had some close conversation on church 
government. On this subject there is not a perfect una- 
nimity of sentiment." What particular point of church 
government it was concerning which they discoursed, we 
are not told ; but it is presumed that it related to the 
general superintendency, as Mr. Garrettson was of the 
opinion, that instead of having the whole continent under 
one general superintendency, it would have been better it 
it had been divided among several, making each superin- 
tendent responsible for his own particular district to the 
general conference. To this opinion I believe he adhered 
to the last, though he calmly acquiesced in the decisions of 
a majority of his brethren in this as well as in all matters 
relating to the regulations of the discipline of the church. 

From Rhinebeck he passed on to New- York, and from 
thence through Philadelphia to Baltimore in order to at- 
tend the general conference which assembled October 31, 
1792. It was at this conference that the subject of an 
appeal from the appointment of the bishop to the annual 
conference was brought forward by Mr. O'Kelly, and 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



231 



largely debated. That all may understand the nature of 
this subject, it is necessary to remark that according to 
the regulations of the discipline, the bishop attending an 
annual conference has the sole power of appointing all the 
preachers to their several stations. Mr. O'Kelly wished to 
put what he considered a salutary check upon this power, 
by providing that if a preacher felt himself aggrieved 
or oppressed in his appointment, he should have the pri- 
vilege of appealing to the conference, which should con- 
sider and finally determine the matter. After a long and 
animated discussion, the question was decided in the nega- 
tive, and Mr. O'Kelly withdrew from the Methodist Epis« 
copal Church. In reference to these things, Mr. Garrett- 
son observes that " Mr. O'Kelly's distress was so great on 
account of the late decision, that he informed us by letter 
that he no longer considered himself one of us. This gave 
great grief to the whole conference. Two persons were 
appointed with me as a committee to treat with him. Many 
tears were shed, but we were not able to reconcile him to 
the decision of the conference. His wound was deep, and 
apparently incurable. " 

The tenderness thus manifested toward an erring bro- 
ther, so characteristic of Mr. Garrettson, reminds one of 
the apostolic direction, " If a man be overtaken in a fault, 
ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of 
meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 55 
When an act of excision becomes necessary, from the 
stubbornness of an offending member, the character of 
the church sustains no injury, but acquires much credit, 
by performing this duty in the spirit of tenderness, evin- 
cing a love to the person she is constrained to disown. I 
believe this spirit was strikingly exemplified in the pre- 
sent instance toward Mr. O'Kelly, not only by Mr. Gar- 
rettson, who mourned over his fallen brother with the 
sympathy of a Christian, but also by the whole conference. 

This was the first schism of any considerable magni- 



232 



LIFE OF THE 



tude which had been made in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. O'Kelly was a preacher of some talent and 
influence ; he had been employed as a presiding elder, 
according to Bishop Asbury's account, " in the south dis- 
trict of Virginia for about ten succeeding years." Mr. 
Lee, in his history of the Methodists, affirms that O'Kelly 
was not sound in the doctrine of the Trinity, and thinks 
that a fear of being called to an account for his hetero- 
doxy in this particular, was the principal cause of his 
withdrawing from the church. Whatever truth there may 
be in this, his proceedings raised very considerable dis- 
turbance in the societies, particularly in some parts of 
Virginia, as three of the travelling preachers withdrew 
with him ; and as they immediately commenced a warfare 
against the people they had left, several thousands of the 
people were induced to join their standard. They at first 
called themselves " republican Methodists/' uttered many 
harsh and uncharitable censures against the Methodist 
Episcopal Ghurcb, particularly against Bishop Asbury, 
and endeavoured to inflame the passions of the people so 
as to induce them to revolt against their former pastors. 
Their success for a while stimulated them to increased 
exertions ; but they soon began to decline, until finally 
their influence was annihilated, and at the present time 
they are not known as a distinct denomination. Pure 
religion, however, in the region of country where they 
prevailed most, suffered a sad declension, and perhaps in 
some instances, it has scarcely recovered its wonted vigour 
and activity to this day ; so deleterious are the effects of 
" dissensions among brethren." 

It is not doubted but that a man may withdraw himself 
from the Methodist Church from conscientious motives ; 
but it is a remarkable fact in the history of this church 
that nearly all those who have withdrawn have distinguish- 
ed themselves more by the virulence of their invectives 
against their old friends, than by their zeal to " convert 



HEV. F, GARftETTSON, 



233 



sinners from the error of their ways." This was particu- 
larly the case with Mr. O'Kelly and his party, as well as 
others who have taken similar steps. The consequence 
has been a diminution of that loving zeal by which the sin- 
cere and devout Christian is characterized, and an increase 
of party animosity, of strife, and many evil works, which 
have ultimately led to the overthrow and entire prostration 
of the party. Let but the Methodist Episcopal Church 
persevere in its career of " doing good of every possible 
sort to the souls and bodies of men," manifesting a spirit 
of forbearance and brotherly affection among its members^ 
and of Christian moderation towards all men, and " no 
weapon that is formed against her shall prosper." 

At the close of this conference Mr. Garrettson has the 
following reflections : — 14 O what a wonder to see so large 
a body of preachers gathered from all parts of the conti- 
nent, and, like little children sitting at each other's feel, 
united as the heart of one man, and all engaged in one 
common cause, namely, to demolish the kingdom of Satan 
and to build up that of the Redeemer ! I retired to my room, 
not indeed alone, for I trust my blessed Saviour was with 
me. O my God, let me rather die than cease to love thee.' 5 

From this conference Mr. Garrettson returned to Cokes- 
bury college, where he preached, and then paid a visit to 
his relations on the eastern shore of Maryland, and was 
much comforted in their society. After preaching a num- 
ber of times with great satisfaction to those with whom he 
formerly " took sweet counsel" in this part of the country, 
he pursued his journey to New- York, and immediately 
entered upon the labour of his district with his usual zeal 
and success, every where hailed as a messenger of God. 

He continued in this work, extending his excursions 
still farther and farther into the western settlements, until 
June 30, 1793, when he was united in marriage to Miss 
Catherine Livingston, daughter of Judge Livingston, of 
Clermont, manor of Livingston, a woman every way 

21 



LIFE OF THE 



qualified to be to him "a help meet indeed,'' and whose 
pious efforts to promote the Redeemer's kingdom were 
ever after, during his life, affectionately united with those 
of her devoted husband. They were married by the Rev, 
Peter Moriarty in the first Methodist church in Rhine- 
beck, and afterw ards partook of the blessed Supper of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

On this occasion he makes the following reflections ; 
a I am now happy in the society of my dear friend, and 
find the two families, Sands's and Schuyler's, as kind and 
as attentive as ever. I hope always to live as God would 
have me both for time and eternity. I am happy, and 
hope to be more and more so. Lord, we are thine. Thou 
hast united our spirits to thyself and to each other. Do 
with us as seemeth thee good, only let us be wholly thine ; 
let us live to thy glory, and grant that our union may be 
for the furtherance of each other in the way to the king- 
dom of heaven." 

CHAPTER XV. 

Mr. Garrettson stationed in Philadelphia— On the New-York 
district — Settles his family in Rhinebeck — Prosecutes his labours- 
Erects a house — Goodness of God displayed towards him — Situation 
of his mansion — His cares multiply — Dedicates his new house to the 
Lord — Several stations he filled — In 1809 visits his old friends at the 
south — His account of this tour — Remarkable preservation — Visits 
Baltimore, Washington city, and various places on the Peninsula 
of Md. — Attends camp meetings, &c. 

From the time of Mr. Garrettson's marriage in 1793, 
until 1S09, I find no regular account of his travels and 
labours. It appears, however, from the minutes of the 
conference, that he was this year stationed as elder in the 
city of Philadelphia, and likewise had charge of Bristol, 
Chester, and Wilmington circuits. This was a season of 
peculiar affliction to the citizens of Philadelphia. The 
yellow fever raged ; and as Mr. Garrettson was going into 
the city, thousands were coming out, to escape this fell 



REY. F. GARRETTSON. 235 

destroyer of human life. His labours here were greatly 
blessed. In 1794 he was stationed in what has since 
been called the New- York district, which included Pitts- 
field, Cambridge, Dutchess, Columbia, Croton, New Ro~ 
chelle, Long Island, New-York, and Brooklyn circuits. 
With a view to his temporal accommodation, he purchased 
a farm in Rhinebeck, and settled his small family. This, 
however, did not interrupt his ministerial labours, nor 
circumscribe the sphere of his usefulness. In this place 
his family resided five years, during which time Mr. Gar- 
rettson continued his exertions in the sacred cause of his 
divine Master with his usual zeal and devotedness, chiefly 
in that part of the country. In 1799 we find him stationed 
as a presiding elder within the bounds of the Philadelphia 
conference, having Salem, Burlington, Bethel, Trenton, 
Freehold, Elizabethtown, Flanders, and Newburgh cir- 
cuits for his district. 

In the year 1800 he was returned to the New- York 
district. Having made an exchange of the place he had 
occupied for another on the eastern bank of the Hudson, 
in 1799 he commenced building a dwelling house. The 
following incident is related on the best authority: The 
day on which the house was raised, while Mr. Garrettson 
stood admiring with what facility the frame went up, the 
power and goodness of God were so gloriously manifested, 
that he was constrained to retire to the lime house to give 
vent to his tears. After composing himself he returned. 
While another part of the frame was going up, the Lord 
so smiled from heaven upon him, that he retired to give 
an expression of his joys, of glory and thanks to his Re* 
deemer. On returning home, he related these things with 
evident satisfaction to Mrs. Garrettson, and they rejoiced 
together " for the consolation." The next day they were 
visited by their much beloved friend, Bishop Asbury. 

In this mansion the family of Mr. Garrettson, consisting 
of his wife, an only daughter, and a few pious domestics, 



236 



LIFE OF THE 



resided until his death, and here the widow and daughter 
.still reside. Here was every thing to make life comfortable* 
The house stands on a high bank on the eastern side of 
the noble Hudson, whose w r aters are perpetually enli- 
vened by numerous sloops transporting the produce of 
the country to New- York and carrying up in exchange 
the necessaries and luxuries of life, as well as by steam 
boats loaded with passengers. A commanding view down 
the river for several miles is afforded to the eye of the 
Inmates of the house and their numerous visiters. Trees 
of various sorts, apple, peach, and a variety of other fruit- 
bearing trees, shrubbery, &c, surround the dwelling, and 
combine together to render it a most delightful residence. 
But what tended to make it a much more desirable retreat 
to the pious of all denominations, was the Christian urba- 
nity, the pious example, and the amiable spirit manifested 
at all times by the inmates of a mansion which had been 
dedicated to God from its foundation. 

Having become the head of a family, and very soon 
made responsible for the use and management of a very 
considerable estate, Mr. Garrettson began to feel his cares 
multiply upon him, and was often distressed at the thought 
of being called by these means, in any measure from his 
more immediate vocation ; and sometimes he would with 
tears in his eyes say, that God had designed a brighter 
crow r n for him. " One night," says Mrs. Garrettson, "I 
heard him conversing in a low voice, with tears and groans* 
Soon after he turned to me and said, that he had been 
pleading with the Lord not to take his crown from him on 
account of his unfaithfulness ; and that the Lord had assured 
him, that No man should take his croicn ; and that what he 
could do in his present situation should be accepted. At 
which he rejoiced, and was greatly comforted." 

The following is the account given by Mrs. Garrettson 
of the manner in which they took possession of their new 
house. Were all newly married persons thus to enter on 



REV. F. G ARRETTS ON. 



237 



life, thus to dedicate themselves and their house to God, 
how many blessings now unhappily lost would be secured 1 
u Our house being nearly finished, in October, 1799, we 
moved into it, and the first night in family prayer, while 
my blessed husband was dedicating it to the Lord, the 
place was filled with his presence, who in days of old 
filled the temple with his glory. Every heart rejoiced, 
and felt that God was with us of a truth. Such was our 
introduction into our new habitation ; — and had we not 
reason to say with Joshua, As for me and my house, we 
will serve the Lord." The pious order, great simplicity 9 
and regularity ever after observed in this house, evince 
how sincerely it was thus dedicated to God's holy honour 
and service. 

Mr. Garrettson continued to fill the office of presiding 
elder on the New- York district, until the conference of 
1804, when we find him stationed in Rhinebeck. In 
1805 and 1806 he was stationed in the city of New-York, 
In 1807 Mr. Garrettson received the appointment of a 
missionary within the bounds of the New-York confer- 
ence, having Seth Crowell, a young preacher of zeal 
and enterprise, and Robert Dillon, a man at that time 
-equally zealous, as helpers in the mission. In 1808 he 
was again stationed at Rhinebeck ; and in 1809 and 1810 
a missionary. These appointments may be considered as 
an accommodation to Mr. Garrettson, that he might feel 
himself at liberty, to preach at large, visit the churches in 
different places, and confirm the souls of thedis£ples. 

In the year 1809 he paid a visit to his oro friends on 
the eastern shore of Maryland, a place where in formes 
days he had been greatly owned of the Lord. 

Under date of June 12, 1809, he relates the following 
occurrence : — 

" Last Saturday about two o'clock, I went to the ferry 
to cross at Powles Hook, and drove near where the boat lay ; 
a crowd of people being around. The hoise began to back ; 

21* 



238 



LIFE OF THE 



and convinced I could not recover him, I leaped imme- 
diately out of the chair, and within the twentieth part of 
a minute after, horse, chair, and baggage, were all in the 
water, The horse w r as active, and swam with the carriage 
for life. Many people were engaged with boats, and got 
off the harness with only cutting the girt ; so that the har- 
ness was not injured ; the horse was extricated unhurt, 
and shortly after the chair was taken up, and every indi- 
vidual thing, without the smallest damage, except getting 
wet, and the small end of the shaft broken. I crossed 
on to Newark, and got there by the middle of the after- 
noon, and found none of my baggage seriously injured, 
excepting my precious little Bible. It was a heavy jar 
jumping out of the chair, but I am nearly as well as ever. 
The affair was most remarkable ; first — one hour before 
it happened I said to a friend, I will put this pocket book 
into my packet, lest something should happen, in which 
were notes and valuable papers. Second — my escaping 
the tenth or twentieth part of a minute before the chair 
and horse went over. Third — the horse, chair, baggage, 
and harness unhurt, except the shaft. Fourth — my mind 
was kept as calm and collected as at this moment. All 
these things considered, we may see the superintending 
hand of God^ and be led to adore his holy name. No 
doubt it was permitted for good, and I believe I shall 
profit by it.'* 

From thence Mr. Garrettson passed on to Belville, from 
that to rfewiyjk and Trenton, in which places he preached, 
and thence to Philadelphia. Here he preached with much 
liberty and satisfaction, and was greatly refreshed in the 
society of his old friends. After spending some time in 
this place, preaching and visiting, he passed on to Wil- 
mington and to Elkton, w T here he had the happiness to 
find his niece, Mrs. Taylor, in the fear and love of God. 
Under date of June 22, he makes the following reflec- 
tions : — 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



239 



" In the afternoon I met a large society, after which I 
inquired if any were alive who were members thirty years 
ago, when I rode that circuit. They told me not one. 
• O ! my friends,' said I, * probably all of you will be in 
eternity before the end of thirty years more. You see the 
necessity of training up your children for the church, in 
order to keep a succession of faithful members, as our 
children and children's children must perpetuate the 
memory of Christ on earth ; and so from generation to 
generation be transplanted from the militant to the church 
triumphant, that the upper region may be peopled with 
blessed millions to adore the Saviour eternally.' " 

The following account of this tour was communicated 
to Mrs. Garrettson in a series of letters which he wrote 
during his absence. It will doubtless be read with interest 
by those especially of his surviving friends in that part of 
the country, as well as by all others who delight in seeing 
u the good hand of God" on his servants. 

" Friday 23. I leave my horse to rest, and Mr. Pres- 
bury accompanies me to Baltimore. My sister Elizabeth 
died about thirty years ago, and left an only child. I saw 
her about a twelvemonth ago, but she is now gone. 

" Saturday I spent mostly in retirement, except to visit 
some friends. 

€e Sunday, 25. This morning I preached at Old Town, 
in the afternoon at Light-street, and in the evening was to 
be at the Point; but as the weather was so excessively 
warm, I thought I could not go in justice to myself. The 
congregations here do not increase much : indeed they are 
rather smaller. The extravagance of some of our people 
has had a greater tendency to fill other churches than 
their own. Mr. D— — d's congregation they say increases 
very much ; it seems a half way house. I am willing God 
should work when, where, and by whom he pleases. I 
have met brother Jesse, and he sent on my appointments 
to Washington and Georgetown. 



240 



LIFE OF THE 



" Monday 26. I took the stage, and in the evening 
arrived at Georgetown; had a large congregation. Our 
friends are much engaged. Brother Roszel is the sta- 
tioned minister. The weather remains very warm. 'Tis 
well I got a loose thin garment before I left New- York. 
I lodge at Mr. Elison's, a very worthy family. Here I have 
a large coof room. They are some of my old Eastern 
Shore friends. 

".Tuesday 27. To-day Mrs. Foxal sent her carriage 
for me, and kindly gave me the use of it while I 
stay. In the afternoon I went to town, and stopped at 
Captain Lewis's, where I found Jesse Lee, the chaplain, 
nursing his leg. On his way from Baltimore the day 
before, his horse fell, broke the shaft of his gig, threw him 
out, and one of the screws bruised and cut his leg very 
much. I am fearful it will go hard with him if the hot 
weather continues. I preached in the evening to many 
people with a degree of freedom. 

" Wednesday 28. This morning brother Smith, the 
city preacher, went with me to the navy yard, and I thought 
well of the improvements. Dined at Captain Lewis's, 
He is not a member of society, but his daughters are, 
I was well pleased with the family. In the afternoon 
brother Elison came for me ; I intended to go and hear 
the debates in congress, but they had adjourned for 
dinner sooner than usual. This evening I preached in 
Georgetown again ; here we have a respectable society ; 
and had I been an apostle they could not have treated me 
much better. 

" Thursday 29. I went to breakfast with an old East- 
ern Shore friend, brother Gruntree. He is an old Method- 
ist preacher. Here brother Parrot and his lady, my earliest 
friends, came to see me, and took me to Mrs. Foxal's. 

" Friday 30. I left my hospitable friends, and came on 
in the stage, laden with members of congress and others., 
to Baltimore. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



241 



(i Saturday 31. Mr. Hollings worth gave me a kind invi- 
tation to stay with him ; so that I am now most comfortably 
retired in a large airy room. This afternoon I had an 
interview with Richard Garrettson, my nephew. He gave 
me a particular account of his father's landed estate, which 
has been for years involved in law. Their title was thought 
by the first lawyers to be good, and there was no proba- 
bility of their losing the suit. He tells me the first person 
that entered a claim died very suddenly before the trial 
came on, and likewise the second ; and lately a third 
person renewed the suit, and died suddenly, and left his 
pretended right to no one. The suit is fallen. 

" July 2. My to-day's appointment was announced last 
week in the public paper. I had much freedom to preach 
in the new church this morning. Mr. Colvil, with his five 
motherless children in deep mourning, came around me in 
tears ; it was an affecting sight. In the afternoon I preached 
in crood old Mr. Otterbine's church, I am not in Rhinebeck 
now, but where thousands think it a privilege to hear an 
old Methodist preacher. Mrs. Gough drank tea with us at 
Mr. Hollingsworth's, and talks of taking me to my appoint- 
ment at Mr. Presbury's where I left my horse. It was 
published in all the churches to-day for my last sermon in 
the new chapel. On Tuesday evening I heard brother 
Shin preach. He is a good preacher, and is stationed 
here, and appears deeply devoted to God. 

" July 4. This is the day of great parade in the city. 
Some of the Methodists were war mly engaged in it. From 
what I understand it was conducted with as much decency 
as the nature of the thing would admit. The language of 
my heart was, Turn away thine, eyes from beholding 
vanity. In the evening I preached' in the new church to 
a large congregation, and we had a time of power. I have 
known the society here in a more flourishing state. I feat 
politics has done hurt to the cause of religion. 

" Wednesday 5. This morning I left my kind friends. 



242 



LIFE OF THE 



accompanied by brother Hagerty, in his gig, to Presbury & 
church, where I left my horse, and had an agreeable time 
and freedom to preach. This is a blessed family ; his 
mother was my father's niece, and I knew her thirty years 
ago deep in piety ; but she has long since gone to glory. 
Her son is now treading in her steps. 

" Thursday 6. Accompanied by my cousin Presbury 
and other relatives, we repaired to what is called the 
Camp Meeting Chapel. It is beautifully situated in a 
forest, at a distance from any house. As I rode up, my 
mind was solemnly impressed when I saw such a number 
of horses and carriages fastened to the trees, and the 
people waiting to hear the word. I had a sweet time in 
speaking from 1 Cor. vii, 21. While the gracious Lord 
was visiting the people with his heavenly grace, we had a 
little shower to refresh the vegetable creation. It seems 
this chapel is one of Mr. Gough's last acts of kindness to 
the poor. I went home with Mrs. Gough. There are 
some handsome improvements about this venerable man- 
sion, and the garden excels any thing I have seen. At 
present the parlour family is very large, there being much 
company. While they enjoyed themselves in the hall, 
Mrs. Gough and myself sat in the parlour, talking over 
old times. At nine o'clock the bell rung, and about fifty 
of the family assembled for prayer in the chapel. All the 
gentlemen and ladies were present morning and evening. 
The riches of the world are good, if made a good use of. 
Who can tell how these pretty things will be employed a 
few years hence !" (Mrs. Carrol and her mother were both 
out of health; and since both are dead.) 

" Friday 7. My appointment to-day is in Harford, at 
Belle Air court house. I came to the place a little after 
3 o'clock, and found there had been a misunderstanding. 
A large gathering had been there at 11, and were gone. 
We went to Mrs. Montgomery's, and had a little gather- 
ing at five. Dined to-day at my eldest brother's widow's 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



243 



Brother Galespy, the circuit preacher, met me there, and 
he and my nephew came with me to my niece Mrs. Nor- 
ris's, and spent the night. She and her daughters are very 
friendly and desire to enjoy religion. 

" Saturday 8. This day the preacher and my nephew^ 
F. Garrettson, left me. Here I have one sister living; 
she is old, and her memory is so totally gone, that she 
does not know her own children ; but gives no trouble 
whatever ; and sits and knits without speaking a word, 
unless spoken to. A few nights ago she called her daugh- 
ter, and told her she should die soon, and requested her 
to bury her by her dear husband. I think I never saw a 
greater picture of innocence. This afternoon I go to 
Abington. 

" Sunday 9. This morning a very large congregation 
assembled from almost all quarters. My mind was sweetly 
drawn out. The church was much crowded, and many of 
my relatives were present. Preached from Psalm xlviii, 
12, 13. I told them I had come several hundred miles to 
invite them to come to Jesus, and to inform them that 
after following the Lord between thirty and forty years, I 
found religion better and better. I preached about an 
hour and a half, and scarcely knew when to give over, 
There was no loud noise, but the whole assembly were 
melted into tenderness, while I entreated them to meet 
me in heaven, for thither I was bound. In the afternoon 
I rode seven miles, to what is called Bush chapel ; but it 
would not contain the people ; so I preached in a grove 
with freedom. Glory to God, I have lived to convince 
friends and foes that I am sincere at least. 

" Many descendants of my ancestors were present 
Some of you have^wondered where I have beeii, and what 
I have been about. Excuse me if I make a small digres- 
sion to inform you. When the sermon was ended, many 
gave the hand ; among the rest was good old brother 
Watters, 80 years of age, and brother Herbert 90, whf 



244 



LIFE OF THE 



had made an effort to come out. Indeed they looked like 
ripe shocks, fit to be gathered home. Mr. Allen, minister 
of Specucia church, who was a hearer, said he wanted 
some conversation. I requested him to fall in with me at 
some other place, where we could have more time toge- 
ther. He said he would. I went home with my cousin 
R. Garrettson, and found my mind sweetly composed after 
the labours of the day. There are very few families in 
this country, at least in the interior part of it, to whom I 
might not have access. Indeed if I were an angel I could 
not be treated with a greater degree of kindness. I rejoice 
to find Dr. Hall, who is stationed in this circuit, very 
much followed. It is in his power to do much good 
through the blessing of God. 

" Monday 10. I preached in a church in Bush River Neck, 
near the Chesapeake Bay, and not a mile from the place in 
which I was born, and within half a mile of where I believe 
the first church in Maryland was built. From what I can 
learn, it was built by an ancestor of mine more than two 
hundred years ago. It was the height of harvest, or there 
would have been more hearers than the church could 
contain ; however, it was pretty well filled. I had some 
freedom to preach from James i, 24. A Colonel Mathews 
was present, whom I have not seen since we were boys. 
I requested him to go with me to Mr. Chancy's, where I 
was to lodge. I wanted to talk with him about new things 
and old ; he gave me his company some hours. He is not 
acquainted with Jesus, but seems to have a respect for 
religion. 

"Tuesday 11. This day I spent in visiting my rela- 
tions in the Neck. None of them oppose religion, and 
they generally think well of Methodisrn. They are, I 
believe, moral and industrious, and have a fulness of this 
world's goods. I told them freely my errand among them, 
and that they wanted but one thing to make them a happy 
people. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



245 



" I appointed to preach at Miss Griffiths. One of the 
young ladies went to give an invitation to our relatives 
there ; they said they should be glad to see me, but they 
had not time to attend the meeting. I sent a message to 
them, begging if they would not meet me on earth, they 
would strive to meet me in heaven. In this place I had but 
a small congregation. Here parson Allen met me again, 
and stayed all night. When alone, I inquired with regard 
to his knowledge of divine things experimentally, and the 
manner of his preaching. I told him he was appointed to 
serve a people who were near to me by natural ties, as the 
greater part of his congregation were my family con* 
nexions. I begged of him to declare the counsel of 
God faithfully, to attend to regular church discipline, to 
visit from house to house, to have meetings in differ- 
ent parts of the congregation, and to exercise extempo- 
raneously, both in prayer and exhortation, and show the 
people that there is something wanting besides profession 
and morality. He said he would do the best he could, that 
he wished my time was not so short, and would be glad I 
would stay some days at his house. 

u Thursday 13. This morning I parted with Mr. Allen, 
and yesterday I parted with brother Galespy, (who had 
faithfully attended me to every place,) and my affectionate 
Harford friends, and was accompanied by some relatives to 
the ferry. I crossed, and went on to the head of North-East 
I have just received a letter from brother 
Cooper ; he says he must leave the Peninsula soon, and I 
must by all means come on and help him. I shall, God 
willing, be at Smyrna, Del., the 27th of this month. 

" July 14. This morning I left North East, came to 
Elkton, and preached at five o'clock to a small con- 
gregation. My niece and her husband were very kind 
to me, and my mind was easy and free. I am not of that 
service to people as I wish to be. This always was, and 
I fear always will be, a poor place for religion. 

22 



246 



LIFE OF THE 



" Saturday, 15. I rode to Mr. Canaan's, where I found 
several of my old friends and acquaintances still in the 
profession, and I trust happy in the enjoyment, of religion. 
We had a comfortable time together ; the conversation 
turned mostly on the subject of falling, jumping, shouting* 
and clapping. I made free to speak my sentiments. Mr, 
Canaan was with me ; but Mrs. Canaan had her fears s 
and asked if I had ever been at a camp meeting. 

" Sunday 16. A large congregation assembled in Bethel 
chapel. While we were singing the first hymn, a woman 
shouted and jumped amazingly. Before I gave out my 
text to prepare the assembly for an attentive hearing, I 
told them I had come a great way to communicate gospel 
truths to them, and I requested a patient hearing. I wss 
led to give a display of the wisdom arid goodness of God, 
and to open to view our duty in resigning up our all to 
him, to the evidencing the power of religion experi- 
mentally, and likewise to display the external marks of 
inward religion. I told them a ministry of this kind was 
necessary to keep up a pure flame ; without it they could 
not expect to prosper, and that there would be an evapo- 
ration that would leave them a mere sound, without the 
vital flame. The congregation was still and attentive till 
I ended the sermon, and then one jumped and shouted. I 
thought it a great favour that there was stillness and 
attention till I ended my sermon. *Mr. Basset dined with 
us, and in the afternoon I rode home with him, and spent 
an agreeable evening ; but I find my friends are growing 
old like myself. Mrs. B. is a pious woman, and he is full 
of zeal and love. He would have gone with me, but his 
many concerns prevented. He told me that wherever his 
influence extended he did not suffer a drop of distilled 
liquor to be used. His house and table are very plain ; and 
he says he feels it to be his duty to do every thing in his 
power for the cause of God. 

" Tuesday 18. I rode after dinner 22 miles to Smyrna, 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



247 



preached with freedom, and lodged at Dr. Ridgeley's. His 
wife was daughter to parson Harris, and was among some 
of my first spiritual children about Chestertown, thirty 
years ago. Here I met an old friend, one of Judge White's 
daughters, who has stood fast in the Lord more than thirty 
years. In the vicinity they are making great preparation 
for a camp meeting, to begin next week. I went to the 
spot, where I suppose fifty men were employed in seating 
the ground. They thought it would take fifteen thousand 
feet of plank, and there seemed to be great anticipations 
of glorious times. 

"Wednesday 19. I rode to Queen 'Ann's. When I 
rode up to my old friend's, brother Segar's, I told him to 
take a full view of me, and try to recognise some features ; 
but he could not. I made myself known, and we had a 
season of much happiness. 

"Thursday 20. This dear friend intends travelling 
with me till I return from Smyrna. We went on, and 
dined at Thomas Wright's, and after dinner lodged at 
Mr. Fediman's. He did know me, and that was all, for 
he had to consider a long time. Several friends came over 
this afternoon, and we had some religious conversation, 
and some politics. Upon the whole it was an agreeable 
time. Brother Segar is a pillar in the temple. 

" Friday 21. We came to Centre ville, and in the even* 
ing the church was nearly filled. I preached, and then 
went on to Mr. Kanard's to lodge. This is a respectable 
and kind family. 

" Saturday 22. I spent the day retired, and had an 
opportunity to read and write. 

" Sunday 23. I had hearers from five to twenty miles, 
and should have had a great congregation had there been 
general notice. However, the church was filled morning 
and afternoon. There is a large, respectable congrega- 
tion in and about this place. I can say, glory to God, 
ihis was a high day. I had the privilege to see many of 



248 



LIFE OF THE 



my old friends and their children. Some of the blacks 
were in raptures. My intention was to go down the 
Peninsula, for about three or four weeks, on the Chesa- 
peake side, and up on the other side, and I had my appoint- 
ments about fifteen or twenty miles apart, by which means 
I might have an opportunity of speaking to thousands and 
tens of thousands, perhaps for the last time, and seeing 
many of my old friends ; but I found the country filled 
with notices for camp meetings. I was pressed by Mr, 
Basset and others by all means to attend them. I am 
now going on my way to Smyrna, where the first begins. 

" Monday 24. I leave my kind Centreville friends, and 
am to preach in the English church, which is almost an 
unheard of favour in this country ; but it was the desire oi 
the vestry. In this neighbourhood I was beaten by Mr, 
Brown years ago, and now a near relation of his is the 
principal vestryman. My appointment was at four o'clock, 
and though a wet afternoon, the church was crowded above 
and below with Methodist and church folks, white and 
black, and we had a moving time. This meeting was at 
Church Hill. I do indeed love the Lord Jesus. 

" Tuesday 25. At four o'clock, in the Methodist church 
near Saddler's cross roads, I had uncommon freedom to 
preach. A large church was rilled above and below. 
Indeed it looked a little like quarterly meeting. I preached 
on Peter's denying Christ. We had a very powerful time ; 
but the enemy took advantage of a weak minded black 
man in the front gallery, who cried aloud, stripped, and 
struck his fists together, and declared he would not see 
his blessed Master treated in that sort; — that he would 
fight for him till he died on the spot. I desired them to 
take him out, and not let him return till the meeting closed ; 
which they did in less than two minutes. My soul is 
happy ; Lord, keep me humble. The children and grand- 
children of old friends show me the same respect that 
their parents would if alive, 



REV. F. GARRETTSON* 



249 



u Wednesday 26. I had great freedom to preach to-day. 
I left you at Smyrna ; I again resume my detail : — There 
were about thirty preachers present, local and travelling, 
and seats provided for about three thousand. There 
were two hundred and sixty tents. I lodged every night 
on the ground, in Dr. Ridgeley's tent. We had fourteen 
sermons in the course of the meeting, and very powerful 
speaking. I preached with great freedom on Friday, from 
Isaiah's vision, vi, 8 ; and on Sunday, from ' I am not 
ashamed of the gospel/ &,c, Rom. i, 16. M'Claskey, 
Chalmers, and M'Combs, delivered some able discourses. 
The meeting increased every day till Sunday; when there 
were about five thousand people. I did not see one dis- 
orderly person on the ground from first to last ; scarcely a 
single thing to drink except water, and sometimes a little 
milk with it, or molasses and vinegar. They had tables, 
beds, curtains, carpets, and provisions, and servants, in 
great order. We had a solemn, profitable season, but no 
particular outpouring of the Spirit, and very few converted, 
awakened, or sanctified. The people in this country must 
be either Methodists or nothing, for there is scarcely a 
minister of any other name. At this meeting I saw a 
great many of my old friends with pleasure, and I trust 
with profit. Good Mr. Basset seems taken up with divine 
things. At parting they had a manoeuvre, which some of 
us old men did not feel free to join in, marching round 
the camp, blowing five or six trumpets, and singing by 
turns. 

*' Tuesday, Aug. 2. At eight o'clock the meeting closed, 
O ! what a blessed day it will be when friends meet to 
part no more for ever ! Brother Chalmers, a respectable 
old preacher from Baltimore, travels with me. My appoint^ 
ment at night was in Dover church, and it was well filled. 
My text was, ' Grow in grace.' Brother Chalmers exhort* 
ed, and we had a good time. Lodged at Mr. Basset's. 

" Wedne£4ay 3. My appointment wag at Barret's chapel., 
22* 



2BQ 



LIFE OF THE 



at three o'clock. About three hundred people were 
assembled, many more than I expected, as they had but 
short notice. I spoke from, ' But one thing is needful. 9 
Brother Chalmers exhorted, and the Lord was with us. 
I am still among my children and old friends. A woman 
belonging to the community of Quakers was present in a 
state of desperation ; whom her friends sent in hope of 
relief. I conversed and prayed with her, but left her in 
the same state, despairing of the mercy of God. Here I 
met with many kind friends I had not seen for four or five 
and twenty years. Many of my old associates are gone to 
glory, but their children and grandchildren have taken 
their seats in the church. We stayed at Judge Barret's. 
His brother was a dear friend of mine, and a spiritual 
child, but long since gone to rest. I hope the children 
will tread in the steps of their pious parents. 

" Thursday 4. We went on to Milford, and got on the 
eamp ground by ten o'clock. Seats were prepared for 
about two thousand. Meeting opened at three — a small 
congregation, and a small sermon. Friday the congrega- 
tion increased. I preached from Peter's denial of Christ. 
Saturday the congregation increased. Brother Chalmers 
preached a good sermon : — not a great many, and mostly > 
young. Sunday about three thousand. T preached from 
f Walk about Zion,' &c, Psalm xlviii, 12, 13. Had much 
freedom ; — about one hundred and fifty tents. Here I met 
many dear old friends from fifty and sixty miles round, and 
we were happy together. We had three sermons each day, 
but I cannot say we had any extraordinary work either in 
conviction or conversion. Those who do not profess reli- 
gion behaved well. No intoxicated person, nor even the 
smell of liquor, on the ground. A few noisy, jumping,, 
dancing Methodists, did, I fear, more hurt than good. An 
empty sound is very disagreeable to me ; a shout, when 
the power of God is in it, is sweet to me. I have nevet 
been at a meeting where there were moje fruitless human 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



25! 



exertions, though I did what I could to prevent them. I 
begged them to wait for the Master, and let him take the 
lead. Extravagance was carried to the greatest height 
among the blacks, for many of them continued it for hours 
together. Such things, when the power of God is not in 
the camp, tend to dissipate the mind. The most I can 
say of this meeting is, there was great attention paid to the 
word preached. During my stay I got accommodations 
at my friend Shockley's — a rich friend, who was within 
call of the camp ground, where my friend Chalmers and I 
retired for lodging. It .is a blessing to have able, wise^ 
and prudent rulers in the church ; but to my grief, I say 
we have some whose zeal and imprudence go far beyond 
their knowledge ; but, thanks be to God, there are men 
of piety and knowledge to check their precipitancy, or we 
might soon bid farewell to good old Methodism. Glory 
to God, I think it will stand, though encumbered with 
many disagreeables. There are thousands in this country 
deeply pious. The Methodists have the whole business 
to themselves in this country. There is scarcely a minis- 
ter of any other denomination. 

/ " Monday 7. I had an appointment at Dover to-day at 
three o'clock. We started early this morning, rode twenty- 
two miles, and got in by twelve o'clock. I feel a little 
weary. The church was nearly filled. I discussed two 
heads of doctrine — the lowest and the highest degree of 
Christian experience. Brother Chalmers made the appli- 
cation, and we had a precious season. This town looks 
old : — in fact, there are very small improvements made m 
any part of this country, except in matters of religion. We 
stayed at Mr. White's, brother to Dr. White, an old friend 
We had a number of my good friends to tea. 

" Tuesday 8. To-day I preached at Blackstone's chapel 
Dined at Ringold 's. At three we had a large congregation . 
After speaking more than an hour on the various parts of 
prayer with great freedom, while the power of God was 



252 



LIFE OP THE 



graciously displayed, and I was much spent, I asked bro- 
ther Chalmers to speak on the duty and benefit of prayer, 
xvhich I had promised to do if strength permitted. He 
did so in a very pertinent manner, for he is an excellent 
preacher. He began travelling when he was sixteen, 
about twenty years ago, but has been located several 
years. Brother Whitby, a worthy man, where we now 
lodge, (who was once a travelling, but is now a local 
preacher,) said, For your encouragement I can tell you 
that under the sermon you preached in our chapel, as you 
went down, a poor sinner was awakened, who has since 
found pardon, and is now happy in God. 

" Wednesday 9. My appointment is at Chestertown in 
the evening. My good friend Chalmers leaves me this 
morning. As Basset's camp meeting begins to-day, and 
he expects to meet his wife from Baltimore, I have no 
other chance to see my old friend, Dr. Anderson, who is 
very ill from a fall from his carriage. I think it a small 
thing to go twenty-five miles out of my way to see so wor- 
thy a member of the church, and the fruit of my poor little 
labours more than thirty years ago. I rode twenty-five 
miles, and dined ut Chestertown, at brother Harris's. In 
the evening I had the church full of serious hearers, and 
to my agreeable surprise the Doctor was among my 
audience. I had a most sweet season among my friends. 
My sermon was from Psalm xlviii, 12, 13. 1,1 spoke of 
the church ministry, "beauty, and order ; 2, her strength 
and fortitude ; 3, her privileges ; 4, her testimony. 

" Thursday 10. Our worthy brother Burniston accom- 
panied me to the camp ground. 

" Friday 11. A very rainy day. I preached in a large 
tent, on the necessity of holiness. Mr. Harris fell under 
the word, cried for mercy, and found peace. He is not 
a member of our church. Brother Chalmers got under 
such a deep travail of soul for holiness, that he fell undeji 
the power of God, and lay for hours ; and when he c$vafc 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



253 



to, rejoiced in the perfect love of God. I was requested 
by some of my old friends to call this meeting; among 
others was Mrs. BrufF and her sister Ward. These holy 
women are full of the perfect love of God. This meeting 
held several hours. I likewise called a meeting in the 
preachers' tent at the same time ; — the tents rung with 
the praises of God. The poor blacks seemed almost ready 
to fly. There is, nevertheless, a probability we shall 
have a great meeting. Many of our good friends have 
come from Baltimore. I must leave you. This minute I 
have been conversing with Mrs. Bruff ; — she tells me, at 
the above-mentioned meeting three besides Mr. Chalmers 
were brought out, and several led to feel the necessity of 
holiness. My dear love, there is a struggle in the camp, 
I will tell you more when we meet. God bless you and 
yours. I am in the cause of God ; nothing else would 
reconcile me to so long an absence from you. I remem- 
ber you at the throne of grace; — there also remember 
me; — I can only stand by grace. While I am writing, 
prayer, praise, and shouting are all around me." 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Appointed to the New- York district — Some account of his duties 
—His sermon on the union of fear, hope, and love — General Confer- 
ence in 1808 — Attends the first delegated Conference in 1812 — His 
views on some parts of our ecclesiastical economy— Appointed a con- 
ference missionary — His letter to the Rev. Lyman Beecher — State 
of that controversy — Mr. Garrettson's views of the subject — His 
charity sermon — Not pleased with being returned a supernumerary 
— Domestic enjoyments — Makes a journey to Albany, Schenectady, 
Troy, &c. — Returns home— Solemn reflections — Makes another 
southern tour — Visits New- York, Trenton, Burlington, Philadel* 
phia, Wilmington, Abington, and his native place — Reflections on 
the state of the people — Goes to Baltimore, and participates in e 
revival of the work of God in that city — Returns to Rhinebeck. 

In the year 1811 Mr. Garrettson was appointed again 
to the New- York district, over which he presided with 



254 



LIFE OF THE 



dignity and usefulness four years. He was every where 
received, both by preachers and people, as a father in the 
gospel, and his word was often attended with power to the 
hearts of his hearers. It was at this time that the writer 
became more intimately acquainted with this venerable 
servant of God ; and still remembers with pleasure and 
gratitude the tenderness with which he was treated by 
him. With what delight have I accompanied him to some 
of his quarterly meetings, and witnessed the devotedness 
of his soul to the service of his divine Master. 

Mr. Garrettson occasionally employed the hours which 
were not otherwise devoted to the services of the sanctu- 
ary, in writing. Though his publications are by no means 
numerous, yet they are sufficient to speak for him, since 
his voice is hushed in the silence of the grave. 

The first publication was an account of his experience 
and travels, from which copious extracts have been made 
in the first part of this memoir. The second was on the 
evils of slavery, a copy of which I have not been able 
to find. 

It was about this time that he published his sermon 
e< On the union of fear, hope, and love in the believer. J? 
The object of Mr. Garrettson in this sermon was to show 
how fear, hope, and love, coexist in the heart of a true 
believer in Christ, balancing and regulating each other. 
V Fear and hope to the soul of a Christian," says he, " are 
like the cork and lead to the net ; the cork keeps it from 
sinking, and the lead from too much floating ; — so it is in 
a spiritual sense ; fear keeps hope from rising into pre- 
sumption, and hope keeps fear from sinking into depair. ,? 
- — " There is also a union in the souls of believers between 
fear and love. Love without fear would become secure, and 
fear without love would be slavish. Love is the dearest 
companion of filial fear. There is nothing more fearful 
than genuine love, and nothing more loving than filial fear. 
These two graces sweetly draw the soul to God. Love is 



REV. F. GARRETTSON* 



255 



the grace that unites the soul to God, and fear keeps it 
from departing from him."* 

At the general conference held in the city of Baltimore 
in 1808, on account of the great increase of our work, 
extending over so large a territory, the number of travel- 
ling preachers continually multiplying, it was resolved to 
establish a delegated general conference, to be composed 
of a certain number of delegates to be elected by the seve- 
ral annual conferences. This measure, so necessary for 
the well being of the Church, had been in contemplation 
by Bishop Asbury and others, elders in the ministry, for 
several years. When it was first proposed at this general 
conference, it met with a determined opposition, and was 
finally lost by a very considerable majority. Towards the 
close of the conference, however, it was reconsidered^ 
and presented in a somewhat modified form, and very 
unanimously adopted. 

The first delegated general conference was held in the 
city of New- York, in May, 1812. Among others, as dele- 
gates from the New- York conference, was Mr. Garrettson ; 
and such were the respect and confidence manifested 
toward him by his brethren, that at every subsequent gene- 
ral conference he was selected as one of their delegates. 
In this character, though he often differed with some of 
his brethren on certain points of church government, he 
always manifested the most stern and inflexible opposition 
to any innovation upon the established doctrines of the 
church ; at the same time cheerfully bowing to the will of 
the majority on matters of indifference. 

In respect to the question on which the general confer- 
ence have long been divided in sentiment, namely, whe- 
ther the presiding elders should continue to be appointed 
as they now are by the bishops, or be elected by the 
annual conferences, it is well known that Mr. Garrettson 

* Those who wish to see the whole discourse may find it in the 
Methodist Magazine (in which it was republished) for July, 1825. 



256 



LIFE OF THE 



was in favour of their election by the conferences. This 
is mentioned merely as an historical fact, without entering 
into the merits of the question, pro or con, or intending 
even to express an opinion in relation to it, any further 
than to say that, whether right or wrong, no doubt can 
be entertained but that Mr. Garrettson acted from the 
purest motives, and according to the best dictates of his 
judgment. 

In the year 1815, Mr. Garrettson published a Sermon 
which he had preached in John-street church, N. Y.,for the 
benefit of the Methodist Charity School. This school has 
been in existence for more than forty years. It is designed 
for the special benefit of the poor children under the care 
of our Church, orphans and others, and is supported by 
the voluntary contributions of the community. For this 
purpose a sermon is preached annually in each church in 
the city, and a collection taken up for the benefit of the 
school, at which time the children are present. 

After stating the objects of the institution, the nature 
of true charity, and the arguments by which the duty is 
enforced, Mr. Garrettson says, " I have brought forward 
these strong testimonials, my beloved friends, to strengthen 
and animate your faith in this glorious work. Call to your 
remembrance the prayers and alms of Cornelius, which 
ascended to heaven as a sweet memorial before the Lord. 
You now have it in your power to bring blessings on your- 
selves, and to entail them on your posterity to the latest 

generation. " " You see these tender lambs rising from 

their seats to express their gratitude for what their kind 
benefactors have done for them, and to implore farther 

aid." " You see their little hands stretched out, while 

their eyes are fixed on you, as their fostering fathers and 
mothers, and to all who are willing to reach to them a 

friendly hand." " Brethren, if you want barren souls 

and slender fortunes, give sparingly to the poor ; but if 
you want to be rich in grace, and your ability to do good 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



257 



to be increased, then give liberally, accordingly as God 
has bestowed upon you." In this way did Mr. Garrettson 
plead in behalf of poor children ; and through his and the 
influence of others who have from time to time lent their 
aid to the support of this benevolent institution, it has 
gladdened the heart of many a widowed mother and many 
a helpless orphan. 

At the close of his service as presiding elder of the New- 
York district, in the year 1816, he was again appointed as 
a missionary within the bounds of the New- York confer- 
ence. This appointment was also designed, as is believed^ 
to give him an opportunity to travel at large, as his inclina- 
tion, age, and circumstances might dictate ; the conference 
and bishops having full confidence that he would employ 
all his time and talent in the best way he could for the 
glory of God and the good of souls. 

It was during this year that he published " A Letter to 
the Rev. Lyman Beecher, containing animadversions on 
a pamphlet" written by that gentleman, entitled "An 
Address of the Charitable Society for the education of 
pious young men for the ministry of the Gospel." This 
pamphlet of Mr. Beecher gave great offence to most of 
those denominations of Christians not connected with 
that charitable society. To awaken a spirit of liberality 
among Christians for the support of that institution, Mr. 
Beecher gave a most pitiful description of the spiritual and 
moral desolations of our country, the paucity of " compe- 
tent ministers" to afford moral and religious instruction 
to the people ; and likewise made a powerful appeal to the 
community, to induce them to exert themselves by every 
possible means, and especially by pecuniary contributions^ 
to assist in educating and sending forth these " indigent^ 
pious young men." 

It was generally thought, and I believe very justly, that 
Mr. Beecher, in his descriptions of the spiritual destitu- 
tions of many parts of our country, was not fully borne out 

23 



258 



LltfE OF THE 



by facts, and that in his estimate of the number of " qua- 
lified ministers," he had excluded nearly all except those 
of his own denomination. He calculated the population of 
the country at that time to be 8,000,000, and says, that 
from the best information he could obtain, there were not 
over 3,000 " educated ministers of the gospel in our land ; 
leaving a deficiency of 5,000 ministers, and a population 
of 5,000,000, destitute of proper religious instruction :" — 
that is, on the ratio of one minister for every 1 ,000 of the 
population, which he supposes to be necessary to afford 
that quantum of religious instruction which the wants of 
society demanded. 

It was said above that it was supposed that Mr. Beecher 
designed to exclude nearly all other denominations except 
those of his ow r n order — meaning thereby the Congrega- 
tional, Presbyterian, and Dutch Reformed orders, — from 
being competent to preach the gospel. According to the 
best data within our reach, there were not less than 6,000 
ministers at that time belonging to the Presbyterian, 
Congregational, Dutch Reformed, Lutheran, Baptist, and 
Protestant Episcopal churches ; and allowing only 2,000 
for the Methodists and all other sects, which it is believed 
is very considerably below the actual number, we had even 
then one minister for every one thousand inhabitants. 
From this computation it will appear that the supposition 
is fully sustained ; at least there were at that time not less 
than 3,000 ministers belonging to the three denominations 
of Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Dutch Reformed, 
all of which hold fast the distinguishing doctrines of Cal- 
vinism. 

Allowing the accuracy of these remarks, what could 
have been Mr. Beecher's design in sounding the note of 
alarm on such a high key ? Did he not mean to insinuate 
among his brethren of New-England, to whom the Address 
was especially directed, that all other ministers must be 
superseded, as not being qualified to impart religious 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



259 



Instruction ? It is not intended to impeach the motives of 
the author of this Address. Such is the power of preju- 
dice, operating under the impulse of strong, local feelings, 
that he might have persuaded himself that the salvation of 
the nation depended upon a well-organized Calvinistic 
ministry, marching forward in firm phalanx against the 
host of Arminians, and all others whom they might con- 
sider to be heterodox in their religious opinions. Allowing 
this to have been the case, the means resorted to on this 
occasion were highly proper. But if any choose to say that 
this was not the belief of Mr. Beecher and his associates, 
then they must allow that the assumptions contained 
in their Address were entirely unwarranted by facts, — 
that a false and highly exaggerated description was given 
of the moral and spiritual destitution of our country. 
The inevitable result of this investigation is this : — 

1. If Mr. Beecher's statement, that there were but " 3,000 
competent religious instructed" at that time, were true, 
none were considered such except Calvinistic ministers, 
and not ev^n all of these, for most of the Baptists are such. 

2. By supplying the deficiency of 5,000 ministers with 
such as Mr. Beecher had described, then all other minis- 
ters must be put down as incompetent to instruct the 
people in religious things. 3. To accomplish this object, 
entirely sectarian in its character, the Address was writ- 
ten and circulated, in which it was stated that 

" To produce such a combination and such efforts, the 
wretched state of our country must be made known. 
The information contained in this Address may, with 
propriety, it is believed, be communicated on the sabbaths 
to all our worshipping assemblies, and the investigation 
commenced in it, with propriety be continued, until a 
regular and minute account can be given of the religious 
state of our land. The newspaper, the tract, and maga- 
zines, must disclose to our slumbering countrymen their 
danger. The press must groan in the communication of 



260 



LIFE OF THE 



our wretchedness; and from every pulpit in the land the 
trumpet must sound long and loud. The nation must 
be awaked to save itself by its own energies, or we are 
undone !" 

Such was the language of the Address. Such were the 
mighty efforts to be made to annihilate the influence of all 
the ministers in the land, but such as should be marshal- 
led under the Geneva standard, and answer to the watch- 
word taught in the theological school under the charge of 
this charitable society. Is it therefore any wonder that 
other denominations took the alarm 1 

Among those whose zeal was kindled on this occasion, 
Mr. Garrettson showed himself in the foremost ranks. 
Excepting the bishops of our church, perhaps no man 
living was better qualified from his perional observation, 
to make a true estimate of the religious state of the country. 
For more than forty years he had travelled in various parts 
of the United States, and preached the everlasting gospel 
with a rare success. Believing that Mr. Beecher's repre- 
sentations were calculated to make an erroneous impression 
on the public mind ; that he unjustly depreciated the talent, 
the piety, and usefulness of ministers of other denomina- 
tions, and that his remarks tended to promote a spirit of 
sectarian zeal imcompatible with those liberal views and 
feelings inculcated in the gospel of Jesus, Mr Garrett- 
son addressed himself directly to Mr. Beecher on these 
subjects, in a printed letter of 28 pages, 12 mo. 

He commences by telling Mr. Beecher, that he had 
" been endeavouring to promote the Redeemer's kingdom 
through various parts of this continent for more than forty 
years," and that during that time he had witnessed the 
displays of the convincing and regenerating power of God 
from one end of the country to the other. But it " appears 
to me," says he, " that you and your associates have given 
a very unfair and uncharitable representation of the reli- 
gious state of our nation, whether designedly or for want 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



261 



of better information, I leave for your readers to deter- 
mine." 

The remainder of the first part of the letter is devoted 
to the refutation of what were considered to be Mr. Beech- 
er's injurious imputations of other ministers; but the 
author confines himself principally to the vindication of 
his own brethren of the Methodist ministry, leaving it to 
others to answer for themselves. The following paragraph 
will show how adroitly and successfully Mr. Garrettson 
meets his antagonist in one item of his calculations : — 

" You have placed your church in Connecticut on the 
highest scale among the several states in the Union. You 
have given a short history of it, and have, in your way, 
prostrated the southern part of our country. Probably you 
are a native of Connecticut ; I was born in Maryland ; 
and as you have, among other southern states, undertaken 
to degrade the religious character of the people of this 
state, I am willing to compare them with those of your 
state. I am well acquainted with almost every part of 
both; and as you have fixed your eye on the Congrega- 
tional Church in Connecticut, I shall fix mine on the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in Maryland. 

" You say that you have upwards of 200 congregations, 
averaging 50 members each, making about 10,000 church 
members. I have looked over our church records, and 
find that we have in Maryland* more than 25,000 church 

* Mr. Beecher had represented the state of Maryland as being in 
a most deplorable condition. After having said that Virginia, with 
a population of 974,622, needed 900 ministers in addition to the 60 
it already had to make up the 1 for every 1,000 of the inhabitants^ 
he says, " Of the state of Maryland we cannot speak particularly. 
But from general information on the subject, we have no reason to 
believe the supply any better than that of Virginia ;" that is, as 60 
to 900. He must therefore have considered either that the Method- 
ists were not worthy to be included among Christian ministers and 
members of the Church, or otherwise greatly depreciated the fefi% 
gious character of the state of Maryland. 

23* 



262 



LIFE OF THE 



members, who have the pure word of God preached, and 
the sacraments duly administered." This certainly was a 
triumphant refutation of Mr. Beecher's statement. 

In addition to its being the professed object of this 
Address to awaken the slumbering energies of this nation 
to the religious state of the people, it was believed by 
many, and indeed I believe by most who read the Address, 
that it had a political object to accomplish. This belief, 
in connexion with the general movements of the Congre- 
gational churches in New-England, was founded on the 
following passage. After intimating that our general 
government was very defective as to its provisions for its 
own permanency, the Address says : 

" A remedy must be applied to this vital defect of our 
national organization. But what shall that remedy be ? 
There can be but one. The consolidation of the state 
governments would make a despotism. But the preva- 
lence of pious, intelligent, enterprising ministers, through 
the nation, at the ratio of one for a thousand, would esta- 
blish schools, and academies, and colleges, and habits, and 
institutions of homogeneous influence. These would pro- 
duce a sameness of views, and feelings, and interests, 
which would lay the foundation of our empire on a rock. 
Religion is the central attraction which must supply the 
deficiency of political affinity and interest. Religion is 
the bond of charity, which in storms must undergird the 
ship," — meaning evidently the national ship. 

Whether Mr. Beecher really designed to produce a 
political revolution, by effecting a change in the national 
constitution, or merely to produce such homogeneousness of 
views, and feelings, and concentration of action, as would 
enable those who should be under the influence of these 
views and feelings to control the national elections and coun- 
cils, we pretend not to determine. It is, however, manifest, 
I think, to all dispassionate minds, that could he place one 
minister of his own order over every one thousand of the 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



263 



mhabitantsof these states — and his calculations went to that 
object — for by including ministers of all other orders, there 
was more than that proportion even then, — they might 
exert a most powerful influence on the national legislature. 
At any rate, many serious people fully believed this was 
one object of the Address. That this was the opinion of 
Mr. Garrettson is evident from the following sentence 
" The glimmering light beaming through your perform- 
ance leads us to suppose that as you are the privileged 
order in the eastern states, so you wish to be through the 
whole Union." Whatever may be thought of the merits 
of this controversy, such was the general burst of indig- 
nation manifested from almost all quarters against the 
assumptions of the Address, the evident proscriptions it 
uttered against other denominations of Christians, that the 
friends of Mr. Beecher it is said called in and destroyed the 
Address.* It was, however, reprinted by those who were 
inimical to its principles, thinking that probably the most 
effectual way to prevent them from being carried into 
effect was to have them generally understood* 

Mr. Garrettson finishes his strictures in the following 
words : — " I hope in future that you and your associates 
will be more wise and pious. You will then be less self- 
confident, and will find it easier to exercise Christian 

* But though the Address was called in, the principles set forth 
and advocated in it, have never, so far as I have understood, been 
disavowed, either by Mr. Beecher or any of his friends. Had this 
been done, so much notice would not have been taken of this affair 
in this place. On the contrary, subsequent measures have only 
tended to strengthen the belief expressed by Mr. Garrettson and 
others, that something more than a mere desire to propagate pure 
religion, had mingled itself with the councils of that society, and 
those who were pledged for its support. Sorry indeed should we be 
to attribute any improper motive to any body of men ; but we can 
no more close our eyes to the history of events, than we can refrain 
from rejoicing that the " Lord God omnipotent reigneth," and 
granteth to his people rest in this happy land. 



264 



LIFE OF THE 



charity toward those who do not think in every particular 
as you do. I have during my ministry laboured for peace* 
and I desire as far as it is admissible to have a charitable 
feeling for all. It was with a degree of reluctance that I 
undertook to write upon this occasion ; but a sense of duty 
overruled my inclination. I desire neither the honours, 
riches, nor pleasures of the world, but only to be a follower 
of the Lord Jesus, whom I have loved from an early part 
of my life. Indeed for more than fifty years I have studied 
the Holy Scriptures with pleasure." All who were acquaint- 
ed with the author of the above extracts, will readily per- 
ceive that it is perfectly characteristic of his manner of 
writing, as well as expressive of the prevailing sentiment 
of his heart. 

At the conference of 1S17, which was held in Middle- 
bury, Vermont, Mr. Garrettson was returned as a super- 
numerary. This appointment by no means pleased him, 
as he fully believed himself competent to do effective 
service. The appointment, however, was made by the 
conference with a view to his accommodation, that he 
might be at liberty to labour when and where he might 
think he would be most useful ; and the assurance of this 
respectful and friendly feeling gave him satisfaction. 

It is manifest that his growing infirmities made it some- 
what difficult for him to travel very extensively. Blessed 
with a pious and agreeable family, possessing every thing 
calculated to make retirement or domestic life desirable 
and happy, Mr. Garrettson had every inducement which 
an indulgent Providence could afford to remain at home. 
Yet in the midst of all these enjoyments, he sighed for 
another sort of repose, for that repose which resulted from 
a consciousness of having done his best to bring sinners 
into the fold of Christ. " My mind," says he, " is after 
precious souls." 

To gratify this prevailing desire of his heart, after 
remaining for a few weeks in the circle of domestic and 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



265 



social enjoyment at his mansion in Rhinebeck, and preach* 
ing as occasion offered in the chapel, in company with 
Mrs. Garrettson and his daughter he set off on a tour to 
the north, " hoping," says he, " I might do some little 
good to the churches." Leaving Mrs. Garrettson at Kin- 
derhook, at the house of his friend, Judge Van Ness, whose 
pious consort formed an agreeable associate for Mrs. Gar- 
rettson, his daughter accompanied him to Schenectady, 
They stayed with Dr. Nott, the president of Union Col- 
lege. " This institution," says Mr. Garrettson, " is blessed 
with a worthy president and professors, and will, I trust, 
be a blessing to society, and give much pleasure to its 
patrons." Here the Methodists, though few in number, 
and far from being generally wealthy, had recently, by- 
great exertion, built a convenient house of worship, in 
which Mr. Garrettson preached with lively satisfaction. 
From thence they returned to Troy, and put up at the 
house of the Hon. George Tibbetts, whose hospitable 
mansion is delightfully situated on the side of a sloping 
hill ascending from the eastern part of the city, denomi- 
nated Mount Ida. On the sabbath Mr. Garrettson preached 
in the Methodist church in this city, morning, afternoon, 
and evening, to an attentive congregation; and "truly/ 1 
says he, " it was a good day." He remarks, that when 
he first visited this place about thirty years before, there 
were only a few scattering houses, and no Methodist socie- 
ty ; but that now he was rejoiced to find a flourishing little 
city, in which were four houses of worship, and not less 
than three hundred members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. What seemed to add to his religious enjoyment 
was the catholic and friendly spirit manifested by the seve- 
ral religious denominations toward each other. On the 
30th of June they all returned in safety, blessing and 
praising God, to their peaceful home. 

After his return he makes the following reflections, 
which perhaps some whom they might concern may read 



266 



LIFE OP THE 



to their benefit : — " The great ones have set themselves 
against the work of reformation. I have laboured to 
do them good ; but all my efforts seem like water spilt 
on the ground, which cannot be gathered up. They do 
not openly oppose; if they did, perhaps I might have 
more hope. If I would let them alone, they doubtless 
would bear with me ; but how can I, as a messenger of 
God, let them sleep quietly over the pit of destruction V ? 

The most part of the summer months of this year he 
spent about home, preaching only on the sabbaths, except 
a tour through some parts of Connecticut, and some 
visits to New- York, Poughkeepsie, and a few other places 
in the state. During this time he says, "I have had 
sweet seasons in reading, writing, and family devotion ; 
I feel that God is good, and I will praise him." He ob- 
serves, " From the 20th of June to the 9th of December. 
I have travelled about 1,000 miles, and preached when- 
ever and wherever I could find an opening." 

Under date of Dec. 9, 1817, he says, " Being pressed 
in spirit, though a great cross for me to leave my precious 
wife and daughter, I entered into an examination in regard 
to my motives in leaving home — whether duty called me 
in my 66th year to leave a quiet, plentiful habitation, and 
a most agreeable family, to encounter the cold and storms 
of winter, at my own expense ; — but having made up my 
mind, a little before sunset I bade adieu to my family, went 
on board the steam boat, and by sunrise next morning 
found myself in the city of New- York, one hundred miles 
on my journey southward." Staying only one night in the 
city, the next day by steam and stage he went to Trenton, 
where he spent the sabbath very agreeably, preaching to 
crowded congregations. From thence he passed on to 
Burlington, where he preached to a very full house, and 
lodged with his old friend, Mr. Stirling. Of him Mr. 
Garrettson observes, " He is a very old man, confined to 
his bed^ appears innocent and happy, and has been a great 



REV* F. GARRETTSON* 



267 



support to the cause of Methodism in this place." On 
Tuesday he rode to Philadelphia, and put up at Mr. Lemuel 
Green's, a located minister, who had travelled and preached 
until he was worn down, but whose Christian hospitality 
invited the servants of God under his peaceful roo£ He 
remained in this city preaching to large and attentive 
audiences in the several churches, visited many of his old 
friends, with whom he enjoyed sweet fellowship, until the 
6th of January, 1818, when he took the stage for Wil- 
mington, and on the following evening preached to the 
people with much satisfaction. He passed thence to 
Abington, where he spent the sabbath, preached three 
times to the people, and then went on to his native place, 
Thursday 15th, he says, " I preached within a mile of the 
spot where I was born : they were chiefly young people and 
distant relations. They seem," says he, " to be almost an 
entirely new race of people, there being few in the congre- 
gation whom I could recognise as my former acquaintance. 
I fear," he continues, " that my native county makes but 
little improvement, and that too much dissipation prevails 
among the young people especially, for their own good 
either in temporal or spiritual enjoyments. Though the 
society at Boosbyhiil was not as large as it was 45 years 
since, I was comforted under the reflection that it had 
been a nursery from which many plants had been taken, 
some to heaven, and others transplanted to some of the 
new settlements, where they have grown into stately trees 
of righteousness. Here they have established themselves^ 
and been the means of good to the souls of others. Thus 
the work spreads." Here he was cheered with an account 
of an aged couple, Mr. Herbert and his wife, the first 
fruits of Methodism in this place; the woman had recently 
departed to glory in her 90th year, and the man still lived 
in the fear of God in the 94th year of his age. Here also 
he preached in what was called the Bush Church, the 
second Methodist church which was built on the continent 



268 



LIFE OF THE 



of America, and which had been standing nearly fifty 
years. Taking an occasion from the decayed state of the 
church, and the reflection that so many of the old mem- 
bers had gone to their reward, and also fearing that the 
rising generation were not so zealous for God as they 
should be, he cried aloud from these words, " Who will 
rise up, and rebuild the temple?" After which, assisted 
by Mr. Toy, an aged minister, he administered the sacra- 
ment of the Lord's supper to about 60 communicants, with 
whom he had a solemn and profitable time. 

Having finished his labours in these parts, and cleared, 
as he humbly hoped, his skirts of their blood, he went 
thence to the city of Baltimore, where he was much re- 
freshed to find a glorious work of religion going forward. 
With all the vigour of youth he entered into this work, 
catching, and enkindling in the hearts of others, the fire of 
Divine love. He preached in the several churches in the 
city, morning, afternoon, and evening; attended prayer 
meetings and lovefeasts ; visited from house to house, and 
in the midst of all enjoyed great peace of mind and health 
of body. Though he could not approve of all the exercises 
which were tolerated, thinking that in some things extrava- 
gances might have been beneficially checked, yet he 
rejoiced greatly at witnessing such manifest displays of 
the awakening and regenerating power of Divine grace. 
After remaining in this city about two weeks, during 
which time he preached no less than fourteen sermons, 
he took his departure for the north, passed through Abing- 
ton, Philadelphia, Trenton, and New- York, in all which 
places he stopped long enough to " scatter some of the 
good seed of the kingdom," and in the latter part of March , 
after an absence of about four months, he once more saluted 
his beloved family in peace and health. 



REV, F. GARRETT SON, 



269 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Attends the New-York Conference—Secession of a number from 
the church in New-York— His feelings in relation to that unhappy 
affair — Makes a short tour to the north — Thence to the eastward- 
Passes through New- York — Thence on to Middletown, Conn.— 
Thence to New-London, where he enjoys much peace — Visits 
Norwich and preaches-jtf!6fiversation with a pious lady — Revival 
of religion — Grieved wrni beholding the ravages of Socinianism— 
Goes to Providence, R. I., and preaches — Probable check to the 
Socinian heresy — Visits Boston and Lynn — Origin of Methodism 
in Dorchester, Mass.— Visits Cambridge — Returns to Hartford— 
Thence to Rhinebeck — Domestic felicity— Makes a second tour — ■ 
Affliction— Reflections thereon — Ardent desire for the salvation of 
souls — Returns through New- York city to Rhinebeck — Revival of 
religion there — Attends Conference. 

Mr. Garrettson's relation to the conference, though 
not altogether such as he wished, remained unchanged, 
and he continued to employ his time and talent in that 
way and in those places which he judged might best pro- 
mote the good of the church. The New- York Conference, 
which was this year, 1819, held in the city of Troy, was 
attended with some very serious difficulties, originating 
from the state of affairs hi the city of New- York. These 
difficulties which terminated in a secession of a number of 
members with a preacher at their head, were accompanied 
by measures which made it necessary to bring the affair 
before the conference ; but though some collisions existed 
among some of the preachers in relation to this unhappy 
business, in which conflicting interests and feelings were 
enlisted, it terminated as peaceably as could have been 
expected under the circumstances. 

To these things Mr. Garrettson alludes in his journal 
with much feeling. Being a man of peace, and having 
the interests of the church much at heart, he was always 
deeply affected whenever any thing occurred to disturb 
the harmony of brethren, or to impede the progress of 

24 



270 



LIFE OF THE 



true religion. But though a momentary gloom was spread 
over the church in the city of New-York, the clouds were 
gradually dispersed, truth finally prevailed over error, and 
great peace has since rested on those who loved our Jeru* 
salem. 

After remaining at home a short time, on his return from 
the conference, Mr Garrettson set off on a tour for the 
north. He visited Kinderhook, attended a camp meeting 
at Niskayuna, a quarterly meeting. a#Troy, and preached 
in Pittstown, Lansingburg, Schenectady, and Albany, 
and likewise at a quarterly meeting near Spencertown, and 
then returned to his beloved family at Rhine beck. " Dur- 
ing this tour," he says, "of about two weeks, I had great 
sweetness in preaching the word, fvhich I did once or 
more at every place I visited. I am now," he adds, 
"officiating in my little congregation at Rhinebeck, 
Here I am pleasantly situated, an agreeable family with 
every thing necessary to make life desirable. This makes 
it the greater cross for me to leave home." 

On August 18, having engaged a young man to accom- 
pany him, he took his departure for an eastern tour. He 
first, however, passed down through Poughkeepsie, over 
the highlands to Peekskill, to Tarrytown, in all which 
places he stopped and preached, and to the White Plains, 
where he preached on sabbath morning, and in the after- 
noon at New Rochelle. " I am now," he says, " in a 
part of Mr, Beecher's moral wilderness. We think, how- 
ever, that the gospel has had a glorious spread in this part 
of the country. Within eight miles of the place where I 
now am we can count six or seven Methodist churches, 
where the word and ordinances of God a*e administered , 
and where many persons of undoubted piety assemble for 
the worship of God." On Monday he rode into the city 
of New-York, and put up with his old friend, Mr, George 
Suckley. He observes, " I could have shed tears over 
the society, on account of their trying situation," alluding 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



271 



to the unhappy division before mentioned, which was now 
near its consummation. 

The Saturday following he left the city on his way 
eastward. He passed on through Rye, Stamford, Fair- 
field, Stratford, New Haven, to Middletown, where he 
spent the sabbath, preaching to a full house of attentive 
hearers, morning, afternoon, and evening, the last sermon 
being on the certainty of the resurrection of the body, 
Thence he passedTjJb Hebron, where he was happy to 
find a revival of religion, and to be comfortably situated 
in the pious family of Mr. Burroughs. On Tuesday he 
went to New London, where he enjoyed much of the 
divine presence in ^cret devotion in the house of God.* 
This was his first visit to this place. He remained here 
until Thursday, preaching to a crowded house every 
evening. On Wednesday evening he gave information 
that as he expected to depart next day, he would preach 
at sunrise on the doctrine of Christian perfection. Ac« 
cordingly he says, " I arose about four o'clock in the 
morning, and after spending more than an hour in retire- 
ment, I repaired to the church at the hour appointed, and 
preached to about 200 attentive hearers. I enjoyed a 
solemn, sweet season, while endeavouring to water the 
souls of God's people." 

After these solemn exercises were over, and taking 
some refreshment, he journeyed about four miles, to a Mr, 
Miller's, whose daughters and one son had recently ex- 
perienced a change of heart, during a revival in New 
London and its vicinity. The father, 78 years of age, 
though friendly, made no profession of religion. " With 
him," says Mr. Garrettson, " I conversed on the subject 
of religion, congratulated him on the happy change wrought 
^ in his children, and urged him to seek the same blessing ; 

*It was a common practice with Mr. Garrettson, whenever he 
first visited a place where there was a church, to repair thither at 
the first opportunity for private prayer. 



272 



LIFE OF THE 



I endeavoured to obviate the common objection he made, 
that he could not change his own heart, by remarking that 
although Jesus Christ had merited every thing for us by 
his passion and death, yet we may not expect to be saved 
unless we seek by repentance, prayer, and faith. After 
spending several hours with this kind family, and praying 
with them, we took our departure^and rode ten miles to 
Norwich, and preached in the church, which was nearly 
filled. After service a pious woman asked me if any one 
had requested me to explain the Lonrs prayer. I answered 
in the negative. She then informed me that she had prayed 
to God that I might be led to make that prayer the subject 
of my discourse. I answered, that when I went into the 
pulpit, as well as before, it lay with^huch weight on my 
mind, so much so that I dare not refuse taking it as the 
foundation of my sermon. She received it as an answer 
to prayer. She had been particularly exercised on the 
petition, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. It 
seems that her husband was under an impression that it 
was his duty to become a travelling preacher, and her 
mind was deeply exercised in respect to consenting to 
give him up to the work." While in this place the 
stationed preacher gave him a reviving account of the 
spread of God's work in the conversion of souls, which 
had commenced at camp meetings. It had extended glo- 
riously through several of the neighbouring towns, and 
some hundreds had been brought to the knowledge of 
the truth. 

Having finished his work here, he passed into the state 
of Rhode Island, and was much annoyed in one place 
where he preached, with the Socinians. With the Soci- 
nian doctrine Mr. Garrettson held no fellowship. Perhaps 
his zeal never showed itself more intensely on any subject 
than when he came in contact with a system that to sup- 
port itself, the real Divinity, the proper, unoriginated, and 
eternal Deity of Christ, must be called in question. His 



REV* F. GARRETTSON. 



tract on this subject, which was published in the Method- 
ist Magazine, and by the Tract Society of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, evinces the deep interest he felt in the 
support of this cardinal doctrine of Christianity. He could 
not, therefore, but behold with sorrow and indignation 
the ravages which the Socinian scheme was now, and had 
been for some time M^making among the churches in 
New-England, particularly in the metropolis of Massachu- 
setts, as well as in some parts of Rhode Island. 

After preaching wurFmuch satisfaction in Providence? 
both in the Methodist church, and by request, in the one 
occupied by the Rev. Mr. Wilson, a pious Presbyterian 
clergyman, Mr. Gan^tson rode forward to Bristol, where 
he preached to a laSJI congregation on the doctrine of 
Christian Perfection, a favourite theme with him. Here 
he found a large society of pious members, whose devout 
behaviour and delightful singing pleased him much. Of 
the bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, residing 
in this place, Mr Garrettson speaks in terms of high 
commendation, as a man deeply devoted to the interests 
of Christ, and expresses an ardent hope that he with his 
clergy and the Methodist preachers, between whom there 
appears no difference in their doctrinal views, will be able 
to check the progress of the Socinian heresy, and stem the 
tide of Hopkinsian refinements on the liberty of the hu- 
man will, or their metaphysical speculations concerning a 
moral inability and natural ability. From Bristol he went 
on to Warreff, and preached on " Now the just shall live 
by faith ; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have 
no pleasure inj^n^" Among others, the Unitarian minis- 
ter made one of his hearers. May he not have heard in 
vain! " I feei^Rys he, "for this loving society." In 

omerset he also preached to an attentive congregation^ 

ith much satisfaction. 

He then passed on to Easton, thence to Dorchester^ 
and thence through Bostoi, in company with the Rev, 

24* 



LIFE OP THE 



Elijah Hedding and wife, to Lynn, where he preached on 
a short notice to a large congregation, on " Put ye in the 
sickle, for the harvest is ripe." 

Mr. Garrettson gives the following account of the rise 
and progress of the Methodist Church in the town of Dor- 
chester. He says, " I lodged with a Mr. Othem?n, a 
pious, wealthy gentleman from France, who a few years 
since removed from Boston t^HHblace. Some time 
previously to his leaving Boston, he had embraced reli- 
gion, and had become a memb^^f our Church. After 
removing to Dorchester, he invited preaching at his house. 
Though but few attended at first, and much opposition 
was excited, so much so that the thoughtless multitude 
frequently stoned the house, the^Prord soon began to 
work on the hearts of the people, and in a short time a 
considerable society was established. Soon after, more 
room being wanted, Mr. Otheman built a handsome 
church at his own expense. It was in this house that 
I preached." 

From Lynn Mr. Garrettson went to Cambridge, where 
he lodged with his old friend, Mr. Black, under whose 
hospitable roof, and in the society of whose pious family, 
he felt himself much at home. The Sunday following he 
preached three sermons in the city of Boston, to very large 
congregations. From thence he journeyed through the 
several towns, in most of which he officiated, to Hartford? 
where he preached with great freedom. Sunday he 
preached in Goshen (Connecticut) in the lkrning, and 
in the afternoon in Cornwall, and on the Tuesday follow- 
ing he was permitted once more to embr^e his family in 
health and peace. " In this tour," says at, " I was absent 
six weeks, travelled 600 miles, and pPRned about 60 
sermons. I thank God for his presence, which was witl^ 
me every day. I do not wish to be employed in a betted 
work." 

We have already seen, tha^iotwithstanding Mr. Ga> 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



rettson enjoyed at home every thing that could make 
domestic life agreeable — that though age and its attendant 
infirmities might plead a reasonable excuse for his remain- 
ing in such a pleasant retreat, free from the cares and 
fatigues of travelling — yet the ardour of his soul would 
prompt him to break through all these restraints, and 
brave the inclemen cy of seasons, contemning equally the 
indulgences of this life and the peltings of the storms, when 
they stood in the way of his duty to God and man. 

Accordingly, in^^Flatter part of December, in the 
year 1820, we find him bidding adieu to his family again, 
for another tour to the south. As he travelled over nearly 
the same ground as that traced out in a former chapter, 
passed through similar exercises of mind, and preached 
with equal ardour, displaying for his old friends and near 
relatives the same affectionate attachment, as well as 
evincing the same devotedness to the cause of his divine 
Master, it is thought not necessary to give a detailed 
account of this journey. The following reflections, how- 
ever, which he wrote down in Philadelphia, under date of 
Jan. 21, will be read by every pious reader with satisfaction. 
It seems that before he left New- York, walking out one 
eveniog, he slipped down in the street, and severely bruised 
his leg. Notwithstanding he was able to pursue his jour- 
ney to Philadelphia, when he arrived there, his leg was so 
much swollen that he was obliged to keep his room, and 
to put himself under the care of a physician. To Dr. 
Sargeant fee expresses much gratitude for his kind atten- 
tions. While confined here, unable for active service, he 
thus writes :— 

" All is right, being in the order of God. He knows 
what is besWWPhis creatures. For three sabbaths I have 
been deprived of the privilege of the sanctuary ; but while 
.thus solitary, I have been contemplating on the wonder? 
of redeeming love, and the^various beauties of the sacred 
Scriptures. O rederopjjpn ! How deep ! How unsearch* 



276 



LIFE OF THE 



able the Deity ! Eternally existing in three hypostases, 
yet one glorious, incomprehensible Deity, coequal, con- 
substantial, and coeternal ! 

" During the week past I have had a great travail of 
soul. My exercises were various, but the most weighty 
concerned myself. I saw indeed in God infinite perfec- 
tion ; but in myself merely I am huta fallen speck of the 
creation. I inquired what motive cdujd have led me at 
this period of my life, and at this inclement season of the 
year, to leave my quiet home, wls^t for money ? No. 
Was it for ease or honour ? No. Was it because I thought 
myself a great preacher ? No. I was, as I believed, called 
of God, forty-six years ago, to be a minister of Jesus Christ ; 
and the blessed God has frequently suggested to me that 
he had called me for life, or as long as I should be able to 
work in his vineyard. I did some years since plead with 
the Lord that I was growing old and infirm, and begged 
that I might be permitted to stay at home, and labour there 
occasionally as I was able. The blessed God restored me 
to my hearing almost as perfectly as ever, strengthened 
my intellect, renewed me in soul and body, and told 
me I must go and do his work. To be sure it is a great 
cross for me to leave one of the most agreeable families 
with which a man can be blessed ; but for Christ's sake 
I can stagger under even this cross, and cheerfully cast 
in my mite to promote the interests of his kingdom." 

Here is the true secret whence originated that restless- 
ness of spirit whenever he had been long at lime. He 
felt that the vows of his God were upon him, and that he 
must perform them. Often when I have been favoured 
with a visit to his friendly and peaceful mansion, have I 
witnessed, even in the midst of every thing calculated to 
make life desirable, the anxiety of his mind to be in the 
field, labouring for his Lord and Master; and I verily 
believe that he enjoyed himself far better in an humble 
cottage on coarse fare, when thus, employed in the Lord'.s 



REV. P. GARRETTSON, 277 

vineyard, especially if he could have one or two of his 
brethren in the ministry with him, whom he always loved 
with the tenderest affection, than he otherwise could, sur- 
rounded with all that this world can afford. This work 
was the aliment of his soul, it being " his meat and his 
drink to do his Master's will," as a public servant of the 
church. 

As a proof of the high estimation in which his labours 
were held by the citizens of Philadelphia, we may remark, 
that unknown to him,lhe official members of the church 
appointed a committee to wait on him, and request his 
longer continuance with them. To which he replied, " I 
receive the voice of the church as the voice of God to me^ 
and therefore agree W remain a few weeks longer.' ' 

To the same fact, the following letter, directed to Mrs, 
Garrettson, will bear testimony : — 

" Dear Sister, — We accept with much esteem the 
tender yourself and daughter have been pleased to make 
us in your Christian respects. 

" Your good husband has been detained among us, for 
some time, partly by affliction, and partly by a general or* 
official request. Some of us see, or think we see, a pro- 
vidence in his affliction. It opened the way in part for 
his useful labour among us, which possibly might not have 
been the case, had he passed through on his original plan, 
He will now leave us. His leg has got well, and he has 
delivered his message to thousands; many of whom, we 
trust, in the-^embrace of the truth, will praise God in time 
and eternity for his Christian visit. We have, with others^ 
strove to make his situation as agreeable as was conve- 
niently in our gower, and have been blessed in having him 
with us under our roof. Many thousands of precious vessels 
has Jesus scattered through this vale of tears, of whom we 
* now know nothing ; but he will bring them with him, when 
he 'comes to be glorified in his saints, and in all those 
who look for his appearing/ 



LIFE OP THE 



u Please accept in return, a reciprocity of our Christian 
esteem ; and make acceptable a tender of our love to your 
dear daughter. 

" Believe us in simplicity, 

" Dear sister, affectionately, 

" Wm. and Mary Chandler." 
After recovering in some measure from his lameness* 
and preaching several times in the different churches in 
the city of Philadelphia, he werit thence to Baltimore, to 
the Eastern Shore of Maryland,^ &e, every where being 
received as a father in the gospel, preaching to overflowing 
congregations, until April 26, 1821, when he returned to 
the city of New- York, where he spent a day or two, and 
then arrived once more at Rhinebe^R, after an absence of 
a little more than four months. On finding himself again 
in his domestic circle, he says, " O Lord, how shall I 
praise thee for thy loving kindness to me, thy poor, un- 
%vorthy servant !" 

^ It seems that during his absence there had commenced 
a gracious revival of religion in Rhinebeck. This was 
most cheering news to him. " Thank God," says he, " a 
great change has taken place here within five or six weeks, 
About 50 have joined the church, and the greater propor- 
tion of them profess experimental religion, most of whom 
are young people. Our little church is crowded with atten- 
tive hearers, and if the work continues we must enlarge it. 
The blessed God began and carried on this work in his 
own way, and the stationed preacher and several of the 
most gifted members in prayer and exhortation, were 
engaged as workers together with God. Frequently the 
meetings continued until twelve o'cloqk ^ night, and 
sometimes until two o'clock in the morning. I have met 
with them almost every night in the week, and have no 
doubt of the genuineness of the work." 

The harmony of those who were the subjects of this 
work was somewhat disturbed by the introduction of a 



REV. F. GARRETTSON* 



279 



spirit of proselytism to the peculiar sentiments of the 
Anabaptists. This led Mr. Garrettson once more into 
the field of controversy ; and in a sermon he undertook a 
defence of infant baptism, in order to prevent the young 
converts from being drawn aside by the efforts of those 
who insisted on adult baptism by immersion as the only 
gospel mode. This had the desired effect, and the good 
work continued to prosper. The quarterly meeting, 
which was attended on the 26th and 27th, was a time of 
great power, and " jW&st," says he, " much good was 
done." 

On Monday he took the steam boat for Troy, in order 
to attend the conference. " We had," says Mr. Garrett- 
son, " an agreeable time through the whole session, with 
the exception of feeling much sorrow for two members 
whom we were obliged to expel. I fear poor J. C. is gone 
for ever. O how awful ! A professed labourer in our 
Lord's vineyard for more than twenty years, finally dis- 
graced by his own evil conduct, and cast off Thus the 
cause of Christ suffers." 



280 LIFE OP THE 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Mr. Garrettson holds on his way — Engaged in building a house 
of worship at Rhinebeck — Sets off to attend General Conference- 
Last visit to his native place —Some of the transactions of the con- 
ference — English delegates — Friendly intercourse and correspond- 
ence between the English and American conferences— His views 
on some points of church government — Attends the New-York 
conference — Makes a western tour — Reflections — Novation schism 
■ — Testimony against sabbath breaking— Solemn reflections — At- 
tends a camp meeting — Retires to bis mansion — Private meditations 
■ — Visits some of his old friends in Westchester county — Notice of 
Governor Jay — Death of Mrs. Carpenter — Her character — Visits 

Kingston — Death and character of Mr. Sands — Death of Mr. C 

S Death of old friends in New-York — Reflections on a call to 

the ministry — Death and character of Mrs.' Suckley — Visits Phila- 
delphia — His zeal for missions — Deadness to the world— Attends 
the New- York conference — Preaches and publishes his semi-centen- 
nial sermon — Extracts from the sermon — Returns to Rhinebeck— 
Last entry in his journal. 

I do not find any particular account in the papers left 
by Mr. Garrettson of his exercises and travels for the years 
1822 and 1823. It is, however, well known that he held 
on his way, in the same undeviating course of exemplary 
piety, and, as far as his growing infirmities would permit 
in the active services of the sanctuary. 

It was during this interval that he was very active in 
building a house of worship at Rhinebeck. It will be 
recollected that in the preceding chapter, when speaking 
of the revival then prevailing in that place, he remarked 
that if it continued, they must have a larger house to 
accommodate the hearers. This was soon found to be 
the fact; and Mr. Garrettson heartily engaged in the 
work, contributing largely himself, and ceased not until it 
was accomplished. Such a work was not only needed, 
but very befitting the exertions of one who expected at no 
distant period, to be an inhabitant of that " house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



281 



Having been elected a delegate to the general confer- 
ence to be held in the city of Baltimore in the year lS24 f 
in company with Mrs. Garrettson and his daughter he left- 
home in the month of March, came to the city of New- 
York, where he remained about three weeks, labouring in 
the city and in Brooklyn, and then, April 1, in company 
with Mr. Reece, and some others, he took his departure 
for Philadelphia. Here he lodged with his friend, Dr. 
Sargeant. He remained in the city, visiting his old friends, 
and preaching in the several churches with much feeling 
and satisfaction, until Monday the 12th, when he went on 
to Wilmington, Del., where he preached the next day to 
a full house, and " God," says he, " was with us of a truth." 

On leaving Wilmington for Elkton, he says, " A young 
countryman and his wife took the back seat, paying no 
respect to age or any thing else, so that I had to ride on 
the front seat with my back toward the driver, which so 
fatigued me that I had to remain a day at Elkton to rest 
This, however, gave me the opportunity of an interview 
with the Rev. Mr. Drake, an aged, intelligent minister^ 
with whom I formed an acquaintance nearly fifty years 
since. On Tuesday I took the steam boat at 8 o'clock^ 
P. M., and was in Baltimore before daybreak next morning, 
I took lodgings with my good friend, Dr. Baker, who mar- 
ried the daughter of Mrs. Dickins, the present widow of 
the late excellent Rev. John Dickins. She sat under my 
ministry more than forty-five years ago, when she was 
Miss Yancy. I rejoiced to find her so pleasantly -'situated* 
with such a pious, intelligent Christian, as I believe Dr 
Baker to be. Here also I met with my good brother 
Reece and others." 

On Tuesday, April 20, at the request of his nephew, 
Capt. Norris, who came for the purpose of taking him in 
his carriage, Mr. Garrettson left Baltimore to visit once 
more his native place. As this was his last visit to that 
part of the country, I shall present his own account of it 

25 



282 LIFE OF THIS 

chiefly in his own words. " We rode/' says he, "about 
twenty miles to Capt. N.'s sister's near Bellair. I find a 
great vacancy in this house. When I was here a few 
years since, the mother and her daughter Clarissa, two 
lovely females, received me with smiles ; — but where are 
they now? First the sister, and then the mother, took 
their flight to glory, leaving four brothers and three sisters 
to mourn their loss. Mrs. Norris and her daughter Cla- 
rissa were both blessed women, and I cannot doubt but 
that they have gone safe home. 

" Friday 23. We set off — my nephew kindly tender- 
ing his services to conduct me wherever I wished to go — 
to traverse that part of the country called Bush River 
Neck, my native place. I saw many places which I used 
to frequent in the days of my boyhood, and among others 
the old church in which I was baptized. By this means 
many circumstances were brought to my recollection which 
transpired more than sixty years since. I was glad to find 
that the people had recently repaired the old church, and 
that a good fence was kept around the graves of our an- 
cestors. They have, however, no settled mihister in what 
is called the Old Parish ; neither do they want one ; for 
the Methodists have societies and houses of worship in 
every direction. We lodged at Mr. Ruthen Garrettson's, 
who has one of the richest farms in the Neck. His mother 
was my mother's sister, and my father was his father's 
brother, and he married my eldest sister's daughter. They 
both have a respect for religion, and I hope they will yet 
be saved. 

" On the Lord's day morning I preached with much 
satisfaction in the Abington church, and then rode six 
miles, and preached in a neat church lately built in the 
forest under the direction of old Mr. Webster, who at this 
time was dangerously ill. I was sent for to visit him, and 
found him nigh unto death, joyfully waiting until his time 
should come. He was among the first who embraced 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 283 



religion when the Methodist preachers made their entrance 
into this part of the country about fifty-six years ago. 
He is now about eighty-Jive years of age, and has been 
a preacher more than forty years. He has a large family 
of children and grandchildren settled around him, while 
he, like a ripe shock of corn, is waiting to be taken to the 
garner of rest. I had sweet fellowship with him. A few 
days after I left him he took his departure. I bless God 
for this opportunity of conversing with him. ,, 

After spending a day or two longer in visiting his 
friends, he returned, on the 27th of April, to Baltimore, 
the seat of the general conference. 

" May 1, 1824," says Mr. Garrettson, "our conference 
opened at 8 o'clock, A. M. I am, and I hope I always 
shall be, an old fashioned Methodist, and therefore was 
not at all pleased that the conference should have been 
detained so long in fixing rules for the government of its 
proceedings. So did not the apostles, elders, and brethren, 
who assembled at the first council at Jerusalem, but being 
full of faith and the Holy Ghost, they acted in the utmost 
harmony one with another." This extract is introduced 
not as a censure on the general conference for adopting 
by-laws for the government of their deliberations, but to 
show the predilection of Mr. Garrettson for primitive sim« 
plicity and order. 

At our general conference in 1820, it was resolved to 
open a more direct intercourse with our brethren in Eng- 
land by an interchange of delegates from one country to 
the other.* Accordingly in that year, the Rev. John 
Emory was sent by the bishops as our representative to 
the British conference. He bore with him the following 
letter : — 

* This mutual intercourse had been kept up by the visits of Dr. 
Coke until the year 1804, since which time until the present it had 
been suspended, though the conferences continued an official corres- 
pondence with each other, 



284 



LIFE OF THE 



" Baltimore, May 27, 1820. 
The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the 
United States of America, to the British Conference of Ministers 
and preachers, late in connexion with the Rev. John Wesley : 

Rev. and dear Brethren, — Grace, mercy, and peace 
be multiplied to you, and to the Israel of God under your 
charge, both at home and in foreign countries. With a 
sincere and earnest desire to establish and preserve the 
most perfect harmony and peace with you, our elder bre- 
thren, we have adopted measures for opening such friendly 
intercourse as will, we devoutly pray, tend to the accom- 
plishment of this desirable end. 

Situated so remotely from each other, and under differ- 
ent forms of civil government, it is believed that no mode 
of correspondence will so effectually unite the European 
and American Methodists as an interchange of delegates 
from our respective conferences. 

We are encouraged to hope that such correspondence 
will be acceptable to you, from the consideration of the 
visit of Messrs. Black and Bennett, at our last session, and 
from the friendly opinion of our dear brother, the Rev. 
William Black, who has been with us during our present 
sitting in this city. 

Should such a friendly intercourse be approved, we 
shall receive with cordiality your representative at our 
succeeding sessions, and, with the most sincere friendship 
and affection, reciprocate the visit. 

The prosperity of your missions, both at home and in 
foreign countries, is matter of praise and thanksgiving to 
the great Head of the church ; and our unceasing prayer 
is, that they still may increase more and more. 

The last four years have been distinguished by no ordi- 
nary success within the field of our labour : our borders 
have been greatly enlarged, and the wilderness has bud- 
ded and blossomed as the rose. The last year especially 
has been attended with an abundant outpouring of the 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 



285 



Holy Spirit, and the increase of our numbers has exceed- 
ed that of any former year. 

The field of missionary labours is opening and extend- 
ing before us, and the Divine providence appears to be 
preparing the way for the conversion of the Indian tribes 
on this vast continent. 

The bearer, the Rev. John Emory, has been appointed 
our delegate to your body, and will be able to give you a 
more particular account of the work under our charge, 
and especially of our 'commencement and progress in the 
missionary cause. 

Most earnestly praying that the Methodists may be 
identified in their doctrine, experience, and practice, in 
every part of the world, and that the Father of lights may 
pour upon you, and upon us, the Spirit of grace, and pre- 
serve us in the unity of faith, and in the fellowship and 
peace of his Son Jesus Christ, we remain, Rev. and dear 
brethren, yours in the gospel of our common Lord. 

Signed, by order and in behalf of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, 

Enoch George, President, 
Alexander M'Caine, Secretary." 
To which the British conference returned the following 
answer : — 

u To the General Superintendents of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
the United States of America : 

Dear Brethren, — We enclose to your care the reso- 
lutions passed by the conference, after the letters addressed 
to us by the American General Conference, and delivered 
by the Rev. John Emory, had been read and considered. 

In addition to the expression of our sentiments con- 
tained in those resolutions, on the renewal of intercourse 
between the two conferences, we are directed to request 
you to convey to your next general conference our warm- 
est thanks for those declarations of unabated brotherly 
affection toward us and the connexion which your letters 

25* 



286 



LIFE OF THE 



contain, and for the appointment of Mr. Emory as your 
representative. 

In him we have recognised the purity of your doctrine, 
and the fervour and simplicity of your piety. We have 
received him not as a stranger, but as a " brother be- 
loved/' 5 Our hearts are as his heart, and it will be remem- 
bered as one of the most pleasing circumstances connected 
with the conference held in this town, that our personal 
intercourse with you was here restored, and that this 
" work of love" was committed to so able and excellent a 
brother, whose public ministrations and addresses in our 
conference, have been equally gratifying and instructive 
to us and to our people. 

From the statements made by Mr. Emory as to the 
progress of the work of God in the United States, we have 
received the greatest satisfaction. We offered our united 
thanksgivings to God, that the doctrines of primitive Me* 
thodism, the preachingof which God has so eminently owned 
in the salvation of men, and the edification of believers, are 
not only continued among you in their purity, but have been 
so widely extended by your great and persevering efforts, 
and that the same holy discipline, in all its essential parts, 
continues, whenever you form societies, to guard and con- 
firm the work which God has made to prosper in your hands. 

For the state of our affairs in Great Britain and Ireland, 
and in our missionary stations, we refer you to Mr. Emory, 
who, as health would allow, has attended our sittings, and 
to those publications with which, before his departure, we 
shall be happy to furnish him, to be laid before you. 

You will see that we have had to rejoice with you in 
the great extension of * hei work of God into thq various 
parts of the British empire, and that the institutions of 
Methodism, which we have proved to be so well adapted 
to promote and to preserve true religion, are known and 
valued in every quarter of the globe. May we, with you i 
DQ the honoured instruments of turning the disobedient to 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



287 



the wisdom of the just in every place, and of hastening the 
universal kingdom of our Lord. 

The resolutions on the disputes in the Canadas, were 
adopted after a calm and patient consideration of the case* 
in which we were greatly assisted by Mr. Emory. We 
hope they will lead to a full adjustment of those disputes^ 
and that the affection which exists between the two con- 
nexions generally, will extend itself to the brethren and 
societies in the Canadas. This is the disposition which 
we shall earnestly inculcate upon those under our care in 
those provinces ; and we have full confidence that the 
same care will be taken by you to extinguish every feeling 
contrary to love, among those over whom you have control 
and influence. 

With earnest prayers for you, dear and honoured bre- 
thren, in particular, on whom devolves the general direc- 
tion of the affairs of the great body of Methodists in the 
western world, and whose labours are so severe, but so 
glorious, — that you may be filled with wisdom for coun- 
sel, and strength to fulfil the duties of your great office ;— 
and also for all your churches that they may have rest^ 
and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts 
of the Holy Ghost, may be abundantly multiplied, 
We are, dear brethren, 

Yours most affectionately in Christ Jesus, 
Jabez Bunting, President, 
George Marsden, Secretary* 

Liverpool, Aug. 7, 1820." 

The following are the resolutions referred to in the 
foregoing address : — 

"Resolutions of the British Conference in reference to their relation with 
the American General Conference : 

The Rev. John Emory having been introduced to the 
conference as the accredited representative in our body 
of the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in the United States of America, presented a letter 



288 



LIFE OF THE 



from that conference, and gave an interesting and encou* 
raging statement of the prosperity of the work of God in 
the United States ; which account the conference received 
with much satisfaction, and unanimously agreed to the 
following resolutions on the occasion, viz. 

1. That the conference embrace with pleasure this 
opportunity of recognising that great principle, which, it 
is hoped, will be permanently maintained, — that the 
Wesleyan Methodists are one body in every part of the 
world. 

2. That the British conference have frequently rejoiced 
in the very favourable accounts which have been received, 
year after year, of the great and glorious work which God 
is graciously carrying on in the United States of Ameri- 
ca; but that it is with peculiar pleasure that they receive 
a representative from the general conference in America, 
The statement given by our beloved brother, Mr. Emory, 
of the present state of Methodism in America, has been 
received with much joy ; and the conference hereby ex- 
presses its high satisfaction, not only in the declaration, 
but in the proof, of the love of our American brethren in 
fully opening the way for a brotherly intercourse between 
the European and the American societies. 

3. That the conference particularly rejoices in the zeal 
which is manifested by our American brethren, in carry- 
ing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Indian 
tribes, and in the success which God has already given to 
their labours in that natural and moral wilderness; and 
hopes, that the time is drawing near, when the aborigines 
of that vast continent shall become the mild and gentle 
followers of our gracious Redeemer. 

4. That it is the earnest wish of this conference, that 
the kind and friendly intercourse which is now opened 
between the British and American conferences should be 
continued ; and that, prior to the time of the next general 
conference in America, the British conference will appoint 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



289 



one or more of their body to visit our brethren in America, 
and to be present at their general conference. 

5. That a letter shall be sent to the American brethren { 
containing these resolutions, and strongly expressing our 
high approbation of the selection of our highly esteemed 
brother, Mr. Emory, as their representative to our confer* 
ence, and our earnest desire and prayer, that, in the spirit 
of Christian love, we may ever be one in Christ Jesus. 

6. That there shall be a regular exchange of minutes, 
magazines, missionary reports and notices, and of all new 
original works, published by the European and American 
Methodists, from their respective book rooms." 

This friendly intercourse being thus opened to the mu- 
tual satisfaction of the two great divisions of the Method* 
ist family, this year, 1824, the Rev. Richard Reece was 
despatched as a representative from the British to the 
American general conference, accompanied by the Rev. 
John Hannah as his companion. This is the Mr. Reece 
to whom Mr. Garrettson alludes in the foregoing extract 
from his journal, and of whom he frequently speaks in 
respectful and affectionate terms. On the introduction of 
Mr. Reece into the conference he presented the following 
letter, which was read by the secretary, Dr. Emory : — 

" To the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church assembled 
at Baltimore, in the United States of America : 

Dear Brethren, — The time has arrived which calls 
us, in pursuance of a resolution unanimously passed in the 
conference of 1820, held in Liverpool, to commission a 
deputation from our body, to attend your ensuing general 
conference, to convey to you . the sentiments of our frater- 
nal regard, and affectionate attachment, and to recipro- 
cate that kind and friendly office, which, on your part., 
was performed by the visit ofone of your esteemed minis- 
ters, the Rev. John Emory. 

The increased interest in your spiritual welfare, which 
the establishment of this mode of direct and official com- 



290 



LIFE OF THE 



munication between the two great bodies of Methodists, 
has naturally excited in us, and, reciprocally, we believe, 
in you, is to us the first proof of its beneficial tendency, 
and a cheering indication of its future advantages. For 
why should the ocean entirely sever the branches of the 
same family, or distance of place, and distinct scenes of 
labour, wholly prevent that interchange of the sympathies 
of a special spiritual relationship which cannot but be felt 
by those who, under God, owe their origin to the labours 
of the same apostolic man ; — bear testimony to the same 
great truths before the world, — and whose efforts to spread 
the savour of the knowledge of Christ, on our part through 
the British empire, and on yours through the population 
of those rising states, which have derived their language, 
their science, and their protestantism, from the same com- 
mon source, — Almighty God has deigned so abundantly 
to bless ? 

We received with heartfelt joy the messenger of your 
churches, the Rev. John Emory, bearing the grateful 
news of the progress of the work of God in your societies, 
and were refreshed by the expressions of your charity. 
We now commit the same charge to the faithful and be- 
loved brethren whom we have appointed to salute you in 
the Lord, that nothing may be wanting on our part, to 
strengthen the bond of brotherly love, and to call forth 
mutual and united prayers for each other's welfare, by a 
mutual knowledge of each other's state. 

We are on the point of closing the sittings of the pre- 
sent conference, in which the perfect harmony of the 
brethren assembled has afforded matter for the most 
devout and grateful acknowledgments to God ; both as it 
is the indication and the result of that entire affection and 
unity which exist among our societies throughout the 
united kingdom. Through the mercy of God, we have 
rest on every side, — the discipline we received from our 
venerable founder is still enforced with unabated zeal. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



dnd under a conviction of its agreement with the word of 
God, cheerfully observed ; — the value of those apostolic 
doctrines which distinguish us in the old and new world , 
was never, we believe, more powerfully felt among us, 
and never were they with greater fidelity exhibited in our 
public ministry ; and, as a crowning blessing, numbers 
are yearly added to us and to the Lord, and the light and 
influence of the gospel, are yearly extending, by the Divine 
blessing upon the labours of the brethren, into the still 
dark and uncultivated parts of our beloved country. ' Not 
unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give 
glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake.' 

You will also, dear brethren, partake of our joy in the 
success with which it has pleased God to attend the labours 
of our brethren in our different foreign missions. 

The leading particulars of their state and prospects you 
will have learned from our Magazine and Annual Reports, 
and it will therefore suffice to state, that, in this department 
of the work of God committed to our charge, upwards of one 
hundred and fifty of our preachers are employed ; and that 
the zeal and liberality with which our people and the friends 
of religion generally co-operate with us in this hallowed 
work, answer to every call, and seem only roused to greater 
activity and enlargement as the sad condition of the pagan 
world is by new developements displayed before them. In 
the formation of regular missionary societies in your church, 
to promote the universal establishment of the kingdom of 
our adorable Saviour, and ' to make all men see what is 
the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of 
the world hath been hid in God,' we have greatly rejoiced ; 
and in those encouraging dawnings of large success among 
the aboriginal tribes of your native continent, which have 
cheered the early efforts of those devoted men whom you 
have ordained to this blessed service. In addition to the 
doctrines in which we have been instructed, God has in 
his mercy given to us ; as Methodists, a discipline adapted 



292 



LIFE OF THE 



in a very special manner to missionary operations, to build 
up and establish infant religious societies among heathens., 
and to call forth in every place a supply of labourers for 
extending the work, and enlarging the cultivated field into 
the untilled and neglected wilderness. In the spirit of 
our great founder under God, who regarded the whole 
toorld as his parish, let the Methodists of Great Britain 
and America regard the whole world as the field of their 
evangelical labours ; and mindful of this our high voca- 
tion, let us enter in at every open door, trusting in God to 
dispose the hearts of our people to provide the means ne- 
cessary to carry our sacred enterprises into effect ; striving 
together in our prayers that from us the word of the Lord 
may * sound forth to nations and kingdoms of men, of all 
colours and climates, now invoked in the ignorance and 
misery of pagan idolatry, and sitting in darkness and the 
shadow of death.' 

More fully to declare unto you our state, and to be wit- 
nesses of * the grace of God in you,' we have appointed 
and hereby do accredit as our representative to your 
approaching general conference, the Rev. Richard Reece^ 
late president of our conference, and have requested the 
Rev. John Hannah, one of our respected junior preach- 
ers, to accompany him on this service. ' Beloved in the 
Lord and approved in Christ/ we commit them to the 
grace of God, and to your brotherly affection. We earn- 
estly pray that your approaching assembly may be under 
the special guidance and benediction of our common Head, 
and that all your deliberations may issue in the lasting union 
and prosperity of your numerous and widely extended socie- 
ties; that you may increase in faith and love ; and that your 
labours may year after year continue to enlarge and esta- 
blish in the western world the kingdom of our Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ — 'to whom be glory in the church 
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 5 

Signed in behalf of the Conference, 

Sheffield, Aug. 11, 1823. H. Moore, President.' 1 



REV. F. GARRET TS ON. 



293 



After which Mr. Reece delivered the following ad- 
dress : — 

"Mr. President, — The paper which has just been 
read is an expression of the sentiments avowed by the 
British conference, — and in which I heartily concur ; — 
sentiments of affectionate concern for the prosperity and 
advantage of our brethren on this side of the Atlantic. 
It afforded us much satisfaction to receive from you, by 
your excellent deputy, the Rev. John Emory, an overture 
to more frequent intercourse and- closer fellowship of bro- 
therly love. Wesley an Methodism is one every where, — 
one in its doctrines, its discipline, its usages. We believe 
it to be the purest, simplest, most efficient form of Chris- 
tianity that the world has known since the primitive days, 
Doubtless, it is that which has had the sanction of Al- 
mighty God, in its rapid and extended success, beyond 
any other in modern times. It commenced, nearly a cen- 
tury ago, in the mother country, in one of her universities, 
with a few young men, * chosen vessels, meet for the Mas- 
ter's use.' Then, it was the 8 cloud little as a human 
hand — now, it has spread widely, and is still spreading, 
over both hemispheres, while its fertilizing showers are 
descending upon Europe, America, Africa, and Asia, pro- 
ducing fruit wherever they fall, — the fruit of knowledge 
and holiness. Methodism is our common property. We 
are alike interested in its preservation and diffusion. It 
is a sacred trust committed to us. It is a heavenly trea- 
sure which we have to dispense for the benefit of man. 
Its spirit is not sectarian, but catholic, and embraces 
Christians of every denomination, who hold the essential 
truths of the gospel, and i love our Lord Jesus Christ in 
sincerity.' Your brethren in England were never more 
concerned to preach its distinguishing doctrines of justifi- 
cation by faith, the direct witness of the Spirit in the 
hearts of believers, and salvation from all sin in this life- 
with simplicity, fidelity, and zeal, than at present never 

26 



294 



LIFE OF THE 



more concerned to enforce its discipline with firmness 
and love, and to ' train up' a people in the ' nurture and 
admonition of the Lord ;' — never more careful that it do 
not deteriorate in their hands, but that it be transmitted, 
pure and entire, to ' faithful men,' who shall succeed to 
their labours : for which purposes they are anxious in 
their instruction, and strict in their examination of the 
rising race of preachers, that these may be sound in the 
faith, and lovers of our discipline. Many of them are all 
we can hope, young m6n whose ' profiting' has ' appear- 
ed unto all/ and to whom we can commit the deposit, 
without anxiety, believing that they will 'obtain mercy 
of the Lord to be faithful.' 

The result of this care and pains to preserve a pure and 
effective ministry, has been, and is seen in the blessing of 
God upon our labours, in an extension of his work through 
every part of our country, where 'great and effectual 
doors' are opening into new places, and the Lord is 
' adding to his church daily such as are saved.' The 
members of our society are also improving in personal 
holiness, and zeal for good works. They are more ready 
to concur with us in spreading the gospel abroad among 
heathen nations, as well as in tightening the ' cords' 
of our discipline at home. On the whole, our prospects 
were never more bright, nor had we ever more reason to 
be encouraged. 

My opportunities of intercourse with you since my 
arrival in this country, together with the satisfaction I 
have had in attending two of your annual conferences, 
where I met with many of my American brethren, render 
this one of the most interesting periods of my life. I have 
witnessed the disinterested and laborious zeal which dis- 
tinguishes your character and conduct. I have seen the 
fruit of your labours in the excellent societies in New- 
York, Boston, Philadelphia, Winchester, and this city. 
The doctrines and discipline of Methodism, when rightly 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



295 



applied, do, under the blessing of God, produce a scriptural 
conversion, and form the genuine Christian character 
every where ; and either at home or abroad, I find that a 
Methodist, who lives according to his profession, is a 
1 fellow heir' of the same 1 grace of life.' My prayer is, in 
accordance with the prayers of the body whom I repre- 
sent, that you may go on and prosper, until, as the honoured 
instruments of God, you have diffused gospel light and life 
through every part of this vast continent, and every class 
of its interesting population ; — that the name of our Lord 
Jesus Christ may be every where glorified in his disci- 
ples. Amen" 

The deliberations of this conference were protracted 
beyond the usual time, chiefly in consequence of the nu- 
merous petitions and memorials which were sent up by 
many of our local brethren and other members of the 
church, requesting a lay representation in the councils of 
the church, as well as several of an opposite character, 
praying that all things might remain as they were. Though 
Mr. Garrettson, in coincidence with the majority of his 
brethren, thought it inexpedient, under present circum- 
stances, to grant the prayer of the petitioners for a lay 
representation, yet he seemed to think that some modifi- 
cation in the general outlines of the government might be 
usefully introduced. From what he has recorded in his 
journal on this subject, it appears that he adhered to the 
last to the opinion that each annual conference should 
have its bishop, to travel annually through its bounds, to 
preside in its sessions, and to station, with suitable coun- 
sel, the preachers. And though I cannot agree with him 
in all his views in reference to this subject, I thought if 
due to him, and to the readers of his life, to state the fact, 
without farther comment, than just to say, that the mode 
of church government involves questions so various and 
perplexing, on account of the silence of Scripture as to 
prescribing any particular mode in distinction from all 



296 



LIFE OF THE 



others, that writers on this subject should, above all others* 
avoid a dogmatical spirit, and exercise much forbearance 
and charity toward each other. 

After attending the New- York conference June 1, 1824, 
in peace and safety, he returned once more " to bless his 
household." He did not, however, remain long in his 
beloved retirement. In company with Mrs. Garrettson 
and his daughter he set off on a tour to the north-west. 
After preaching in Schenectady on sabbath, July 4, 1824, 
he took a canal boat on Monday for Utica, where he arrived 
on Tuesday, and in the evening of Wednesday preached 
to a crowded house, on a favourite subject, from the words 
of our Saviour to Martha, " But one thing is needful." 
Here he met Bishops George and Hedding, with whom 
he took sweet counsel. He makes the following reflec- 
tions on the changes and improvements in this part of the 
country : — 

" What an astonishing alteration in this country ! More 
than thirty years since, when I was travelling through 
these parts, preaching and forming circuits, I could find 
here and there only a log hut to screen me from the blasts 
of winter, or the scorchings of a summer's sun. But now 
the country is thickly populated, farms highly cultivated, 
villages multiplied, and churches erected in every direc* 
tion, splended coaches rolling through the streets, &c, &c. 
I fear, indeed, the people in general think more of the 
world than they do of their souls. I awfully fear for the 
inhabitants of this fertile country." 

After remaining in Utica eight days, " bearing," as he 
says, " a faithful testimony against the prevailing vices of 
the place," and likewise recording his sense of the kind- 
ness of his friends, he returned to Schenectady, where 
" our good friends at the college," says he, " were very 
attentive, doing every thing in their power to make us 
comfortable." 

After observing that in Utica and some other places, the 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



29i 



Methodists seem to be on the back ground, he says s 
i( What is the cause 1 O Lord, heal our backslidings, and 
bring us to our former standing. Some men learn to preach 
as they would learn any other profession, get a scanty sup- 
port, and I fear get but few if any souls for their hire. 
The good old plan was to be thrust out with the awfu! 
words pressing on the soul, Wo is me if I preach not the 
gospel/ In all such there is an ardent desire for holi- 
ness, a burning zeal for the salvation of perishing sinners, 
and by their means precious souls are gathered into the 
fold of Christ. 

"I spent the greater part of Thursday 15," says Mr 
Garrettson, " at Dr. Nott's, reading Jones's Church His- 
tory. He certainly views wha^I call the Novaiian schism 
— which happened about the middle of the third century- 
much more favourably than I can. After the death of the 
bishop of Rome, when the people were about to elect a 
successor, Novatian wished for that high office in the 
church; but when he found himself defeated, he formed 
a party, which elected him, and set him apart as bishop 
of Rome. If this was not making a schism in the church,, 
I am at a* loss to know what ought to be called by that 
name. At that period, under the persecutions of the hea 
then, Jesus Christ certainly had a living body at Rome 
I think it was pride, or some other unholy passion, which 
excited Novatian and his party, thus to rend the body of 
Christ, to sow the seeds of discord, the fruits of which 
were so much deprecated by Cyprian , bishop of Carthage, 
I dare not call the origin of that branch of the church 
which has come down to us through the Waldenses, by 
means of the Novatian schism, a pure succession from the 
apostles." I believe the united testimony of ecclesiastical 
historians goes to say that although Novatian held fast the 
essential doctrines of Christianity, he formed his party 
without justifiable means, being actuated by a spirit ot 
rivalry toward Cornelius, who was chosen in preference 

26* 



298 LIFE OF THE 

to Novatian to the office of a bishop on account of his dig 
tinguished virtues. This gave offence to Novatian, who 
was a severe character, and carried his rigid notions of 
church discipline so far as to refuse a readmission into 
the church of any persons who had fallen into sin, how- 
ever penitent they might be. These things being consi- 
dered, Mr. Garrettson had good reason to suspect the^wre 
origin of that church which proceeded from the schism of 
Novatian. The history of those times, however, is of that 
character as to render it extremely difficult to form a cor- 
rect judgment respecting the true causes of the various 
sects which from time to time disturbed the tranquillity of 
the church. All who dissented from the main body were 
denominated schismatics mt heretics, with what degree of 
justice and truth it is somewhat difficult to decide. 

After returning and remaining a few days at home, he 
took the steam boat for New- York. He here bears a 
pointed testimony against the immorality recently intro- 
duced by an opposition line of steam boats, in starting on 
the Lord's day. " I fear/' says he, " our sins will bring 
down the judgments of God upon us." Sunday the 25th, 
he observes, " I preached and had a preeious sacramental 
season in Allen-street church, and in the evening the word 
was refreshing in the church at Greenwich. 

" My blessed God has been good to me for many years, 
for which I will praise him. I am now bending over eter- 
nity, and must soon go the way of all the earth. Not being 
able to walk about much, I am retired in the hospitable 
family of Mr. Suckley, and have a good time for self- 
examination, meditation, and prayer. I am under many 
and the strongest obligations to my heavenly Father, and 
am fully sensible that I have nothing in myself to recora- 
mend me to his favour. Mercy through the merits of Jesus 
Christ is my only plea. The aged as well as the young 
must continually say, i Every moment, Lord, I need the 
merit of thy death/ '' In several places he has left upon 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



290 



record sentiments similar to the above. It would appear, 
therefore, that he was endeavouring to weigh himself in 
the balance, to cast up his accounts, that he might be 
ready, when called, to render them up " with joy, and 
not with grief.' ' He continued labouring in the several 
churches in the city and in Brooklyn, until August 10, 
when he set off to attend a camp meeting on Long Island. 
" I endeavour," says he, " in every sermon I preach, to 
deliver it as if it were my last. I often think of my dear 
old friend, Bishop Asbury, who spent the last shred of his 
valuable life in the service of his great Master. I wish to 
do good, to be greatly taken up in my blessed Master's 
work, that my last may be my best days. O ! wash me, 
Lord, nd make me clean." 

After attending the camp meeting, with which he seemed 
much pleased, because he thought good was done, he 
returned to the city, where he spent a few days in visiting 
and preaching. On Monday he left the city for Rhine- 
beck. " This week," says he, under date of August 22, 
" I have spent with my family, and have been frequently 
in deep exercise of mind. I cannot be fully satisfied, un- 
less employed in the work of the blessed God. On this 
day, sabbath, I have preached in the mission chapeL 
morning, afternoon, and evening, with much liberty, 
May the blessed work revive in Rhinebeck." 

A few days after he remarks, "I have been several 
weeks about home, and sometimes have preached two or 
three times on the Lord's day. I am sensible that to be 
happy we must be rationally employed, and not take anxious 
thoughts for the morrow. The maxim of our divine Saviour 
is founded in the fitness of things, Sufficient unto the day 
is the evil thereof. I have now in my retirement time for 
reflection and self examination, and although, blessed be 
God, I have not designedly erred, yet in many things I 
discover my imperfections. Sometimes I suffer much 
depression of spirits, when I should rejoice and praise 



300 



LIFE OP THE 



God, who has surrounded me with so many mercies. Jesus 
is my friend, and I will praise him. My dear Mrs. Gar= 
rettson is always ready, when a gloom overspreads my 
mind, to administer a word of comfort ; and the affection- 
ate and cheerful conversation of my lovely daughter, is 
enough to awaken sensibility in the heart of a hermit, 
* Why art thou cast down, O my soul !• Nearly half a 
century since I was happy in the perfect love of God, and 
my labours were abundant in his service. The blessed 
God has favoured me with many days, and with a good 
constitution ; but I fear I have come short in doing as 
much in his cause as I might have done. I have a 
glorious Advocate ; otherwise I must sink. Glory to his 
name ! I will praise him, and yet strive what I can do to 
promote his cause. Unworthy as I feel myself, I would 
not part with my hope of glory for a million of worlds." 
Such were the private meditations of this man of God 
Such deep self abasement, accompanied with an unwaver- 
ing confidence in the infinite merits of the Lord Jesus, 
indicated a thorough acquaintance with his own heart, 
and a scriptural view of the Divine plan of redemption 
and salvation. 

On the 21st of September, accompanied by Mrs. Gar- 
rettson and his daughter, he paid a visit to some old 
friends in Westchester county. Among others with whom 
ihey participated in a friendly interchange of thought and 
conversation, was the late Governor Jay and his family. 
He resided in the town of Bedford. Of him Mr. Garrett- 
son thus speaks : — " Mr. Jay lives in dignified retirement, 
resembling a patriarch in the midst of his children and 
grandchildren. As several were there on a visit, there 
were about twenty persons at the table, and the best of all 
is, they appear to fear God, and to be engaged in doing 
good. He is now about eighty years of age, and very 
feeble. After having filled some of the first civil office^ 
in his country, in this advanced time of life, the American 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



301 



Bible Society have elected him their president, as the suc- 
cessor of Mr. Boudinot, deceased. He has prayers in 
his family morning and evening.* After a very pleasant 
visit here, we set our faces towards home, crossed the 
mountains, and on Saturday arrived in safety at our quiet 
habitation. God has been gracious to my family many 
years, and prayers and praise I trust ascend to heaven 
daily." 

As we advance in life we seem more and more affected 
with the ravages which death makes in the circle of our 
acquaintance. Our associates and equals in age we behold 
one after another dropping into eternity, which reminds 
us of our own near approach to " the valley and shadow 
of death." It is, however, a reviving consolation in the 
midst of these melancholy signals of mortality, that a hope 
of a better state of existence accompanies the holy Chris- 
tian through his passage into the other world, while he 
believingly listens to the voice, " Fear not, for I am with 
thee," — " my rod and staff shall comfort thee." 

It was about this time that one of the early Christian 
friends of Mr. Garrettson, Mrs. Carpenter of New- York, 
took her departure for a world of spirits. At the particu- 
lar request of the family, Mr. Garrettson, October 28th, 
1824, left home for New-York to preach her funeral 
discourse. On this occasion he makes the following 
reflections : — 

" Our dear friend, Mrs. Carpenter, has gone to rest, 
leaving her husband and family to mourn their bereave- 
ment. She was born in the same month and year that I 
was. She has gone a little before me, but I must soon 
follow her. For more than fifty years she enjoyed an 
evidence of her acceptance in the beloved, and for many 
years she enjoyed, in an eminent degree, the sanctifying 

* This venerable man and eminent statesman, the friend of his 
country, and a firm believer in Christianity, has since gone the 
way of all the earth, beloved and lamented by all who knew him. 



LIFE OF THE 



influences of the Holy Spirit ; and after a long and useful 
life she left the world in the full triumphs of faith, in the 
seventy-third year of her age. She was beloved by all 
who knew her ; and the church, her family, and acquaint- 
ances, have lost in her a valuable friend ; but their loss is 
her eternal gain." 

After remaining a few days in the city he returned to 
Rhinebeck. Here he endeavoured to fill up his time in 
reading, writing, and meditation, occasionally preaching, 
particularly on the Lord's day, in the mission chapel at 
Rhinebeck, and making some excursions to the neigh- 
bouring villages, where he was instrumental in watering 
the souls of God's.people. After having visited Kingston, 
and preached to the people under some depression of 
spirit, he makes the following remarks : — 

" This is a poor soil for Methodism. This is an ancient 
village, first settled by emigrants from Holland, whose 
descendants seem to hold fast the religious profession of 
their ancestors, and think it borders on a crime to depart 
from it. There is, however, but little to be accomplished 
without perseverance. The time may come when the 
hearts of the people even in this place may yield to the 
touches of God's Spirit."* 

"March 8, 1825," he observes, "a messenger brought 
us the tidings that Mr, Sands had taken his departure 
from this world of sorrow at about three o'clock this 
morning. On the Sunday following, March 13, 1 preached 
his funeral sermon to a large congregation on the words 
of the psalmist, Many are the afflictions of the righteous , 
but out of them all the Lord delivereth him* 

* This conjecture has been since realized in the village of Kings- 
ton. A very considerable revival during the last year has been wit 
nessed, and a number of souls have been brought to the knowledge 
of the truth. How much of the good seed which has thus sprung 
up, was sown by Mr. Garrettson, who can tell ? Eternity will 
enfold it ! 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



303 



H Mr. Sands was among the first who joined the Method* 
ist society in Rhinebeck. He was the second person who 
invited me to preach at his house in this place. I found 
him a kind, benevolent friend ; and it was not long after 
I came to the place that he was brought into gospel liber- 
ty, and was appointed the leader of the class. He dis- 
charged the duties of this office as long as he was able. 
Many of our preachers who have lived in Rhinebeck, 
will long remember his cheerful bounties. He was a man 
of an upright character and conduct, and of great benevo- 
lence, against whom nothing could be said, not even by 
the tongue of envy. I give the following anecdote as a 
proof. When Mr. Jay, of whom I have before spoken, 
was governor of the state, party politics ran high between 
what were then called federalists and republicans. This 
led them to speak very freely of each other's candidates 
for office. At this time Mr. Sands was in nomination as 
a senator. I looked over the newspapers to see if any 
thing could be said against him. I remember a short 
paragraph which expressed * a surprise to see good old 
Mr. Sands coming forward at the head of his party, and 
suggested that it would be much better for him to remain 
at home, and take care of his class !' He lived a useful 
member of our church about thirty-five years, and in the 
eighty-second year of his natural life took his departure 
to glory." 

This testimony to the worth of Mr. Sands is by no 
means exaggerated. He was a most amiable Christian, a 
philanthropist, deeply devoted to God and the interests of 
his church, manifesting his regard to the ministers of 
Christ by repeated acts of liberality. 

On sabbath, March 20th, he says, " After the morning 
service I was called upon to attend the funeral of Mr* 

C S , a useful citizen, and on whom I had often 

endeavoured to impress the nature and necessity of our 
holy religion. I felt much for him during his sickness. 



304 



LIFE OF THE 



and was much gratified to learn there was some alteration 
in his mind for the better, before he died. 

" On Monday, by the steam boat, we were in New-* 
York, in about ten hours. Our old friends are dropping 
off one after another. Brother Paul Hick and brother 
Arcularius, two of the oldest members of the church in 
the city, have just gone to heaven, and I fear brother 
Carpenter will not continue long.* O Lord, sanctify me 
wholly ; and I pray God that my soul, body, and spirit, 
may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord 
Jesus Christ." 

He continued in the city, preaching in the several 
churches, visiting the sick and his old friends, until April 
5th, when he returned to Rhinebeck. On understanding 
that one of the preachers was about to locate, Mr. Gar- 
rettson has the following reflections : — " Did the blessed 
God call him to be a minister ? If so, how has he disposed 
of the call ? Or did he run before he was sent ? Or has 
he fallen from God ? It is a very serious thing to trifle 
with a work of such vast importance. I awfully fear for 
the consequences, as I believe a call to the ministry is 
for life." 

He was prevented from making his fifth visit to New- 
York for this season, by receiving information of the death 
of another of his valued friends, Mrs. Suckley of New- 
York, and who, according to her wishes made known 
previously to her death, was to be buried in Rhinebeck. 
Tuesday, November 28th, he observes, "This was a 
solemn day. We were waiting to receive the remains of 
our deceased friend and her mourning family. About ten 
o'clock in the evening they arrived, accompanied by two 
of the preachers from the city, and several other persons. 
Our habitation is highly honoured." 

Mr. Garrettson makes the following remarks respecting 
Mrs. Suckley: — "She was awakened and brought into 
* He did not, but died soon after in great peace. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



305 



gospel liberty when in the bloom of youth, soon after the 
introduction of Methodism into Rhinebeck. She was 
sweetly drawn by the cords of Divine love, which passion 
seemed always to govern her heart. She appeared, indeed, 
to be one of those who think no evil. She possessed the 
tenderest sensibilities of our nature, and these improved 
by education and grace. Her deeds of charity were 
always performed in such a private manner, that some 
might think that she was not liberal ; but she was a friend 
to the poor. She was a woman of much prayer, and her 
communion with God the Father through our Lord Jesus 
Christ was intimate and constant. Her modest, humble, 
and unassuming deportment, shielded her from the cen- 
sures of the invidious. As a wife and mother, she was 
affectionate and tender. Many are the prayers which she 
has lodged in the bosom of God for her children. 

" In her last sickness she remarked, ' God has not 
shown me his will distinctly, whether I am to live or die ; 
but in his good time I shall know. I have much to make 
life desirable,' — having reference to her children, — ' but I 
cannot form one petition for life, knowing it will be best 
for me to go V Her sufferings were great, but her peace 
flowed like a river. She has left a husband, two sons, 
and three daughters, to mourn their loss. O that they 
may so live here as to meet her in glory." 

Under date of March, 1826, Mr. Garrettson remarks, 
that he had spent most of the past winter in Rhinebeck 
and its vicinity, and says, " The more I labour in the good 
cause, the better I feel in soul and body." On the 12th 
of April, he left home for Philadelphia, and says, that in 
twenty-five hours he arrived safely, a distance of about 
two hundred miles, twenty-five of which was by land. 
As the Philadelphia conference was in session at the time 
of his arrival, he speaks of enjoying much consolation in 
the society of the preachers, as well as in dispensing the 
word of life. Among other meetings, he says that he 

27 



306 



LIFE OF THE 



attended the anniversary of the missionary society of the 
Philadelphia conference, and was much pleased and pro- 
fited with the appropriate addresses which were delivered. 

Mr. Garrettson possessed, in an eminent degree, the 
soul of a missionary. He was one of the founders and 
active promoters of the Missionary Society of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, became a life member by his own 
contribution, aided its operations, and rejoiced in its 
prosperity until the day of his death. One of the last 
acts of his life was to make a bequest of an amount annu- 
ally sufficient to support a single missionary, as he expressed 
it, until the millennium. 

On his return to Rhinebeck, after giving thanks to God 
for his goodness to himself and family, he says, " I want 
to have very little to do with the world. I never feel so 
well as when employed in the vineyard of the Lord." He 
was, however, happily relieved from worldly care, by his 
nephew, an intelligent and pious young man, who had for 
several years past taken the charge of his venerable uncle's 
temporal affairs, and managed them to his entire satisfac- 
tion. Of his faithfulness in these duties and the great 
relief which it afforded him, Mr. Garrettson often speaks 
in terms of gratitude to God. This reminds me of a 
remark made by a particular friend of Mr. Garrettson, 
that whenever he meddled with temporal concerns he 
seemed to be out of his element, it being his calling to 
move in a spiritual atmosphere, and to labour to build up 
the church of God. In this respect his peculiar gift and 
predominant inclination were happily united, as every 
sentence in his journal abundantly shows. 

At the New-York conference, May, 1826, the confer- 
ence requested Mr. Garrettson, as he had just entered 
upon the fifty-first year of his ministry, to preach a semi- 
centennial sermon before the conference. Having com- 
plied with this request, a vote was passed in favour of its 
being published, This was afterwards done. In this 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



307 



sermon, Mr. Garrettson gave a short history of the rise 
and progress of Methodism from its commencement to 
that time, interspersing remarks on its general economy, 
its usefulness, and suggesting some hints by which he 
thought some of its external features might be improved. 
He likewise gave a history of some of the most striking 
parts of his own experience and labours, gave short notices 
of some of the primitive Methodist preachers, and con- 
cluded by a solemn word of advice to his brethren. From 
this sermon several extracts have been inserted in the pre- 
ceding parts of this Memoir, and the principal facts therein 
stated are here incorporated. The following additional 
extracts will be read with interest : — 

" How shall we sufficiently praise God for the many, 
many thousands, who within the last eighty or ninety 
years have been brought into gospel liberty, either directly 
or indirectly, by the instrumentality of John Wesley. In 
looking over the minutes of our annual conferences, I 
should conjecture, that more than a thousand names, 
which have appeared on them since mine was first placed 
there, no longer appear. What has become of them ? 
Thank God, a goodly number have worn themselves out in 
the good cause, ripened, and were gathered in. There 
are now more than ten thousand preachers, travelling and 
local, in the Wesleyan connexion, in Europe, Asia, Afri- 
ca, and America, and in the islands of the seas, and more 
than half a million in membership; and how many, can 
we reasonably conjecture, have been ripened by grace, 
and called home, since Mr. Wesley first began to preach 
salvation by faith, and a direct witness of the Spirit of 
the forgiveness of sins ? Would you say two millions ? — 
or suppose one million, — would not even this be a suffi- 
cient inducement to encourage us in the great work, espe- 
cially when we view one soul as of more value than all 
the wealth and honour that this world can afford ? The 
little treasure which, I trust, I have laid up in heaven, I 



308 



LIFE OF THE 



would not part with for the riches of a thousand such 
worlds as this. 

" I must step without the particular pale of my own 
church, to speak of that numerous body of Christians who 
were marshalled under Mr. Whitefield and Lady Hunt- 
ingdon. To these in their commencement Mr. Wesley 
bore the interesting relation of a father. We likewise view 
with pleasure that body of men, who are called the evan- 
gelical clergy of the national church. We hear with joy 
of their preaching salvation by faith, and of their zeal in 
promoting Bible, missionary, and Sunday school societies. 
When did this change take place ? Will not even preju- 
dice allow, that the religious excitement, which has been 
spreading more and more, and awakening the energies of 
labourers in different sectionsofthe Lord's vineyard, began 
through the instrumentality of the Wesleys ? We see them 
taking the lead, and then you may observe an Ingham, a 
Hervey, a Whitefield, a Morgan, a Perronet, a Fletcher, 
a Coke, and several others, all ministers of the established 
church, making a powerful stand against the powers of 
darkness. We should not think it strange to find many- 
hundreds of evangelical ministers in that establishment 
My dear brethren, let the work spread to the ends of the 
earth, and let hundreds of millions be brought into gospel 
light and liberty. 

" Have we done no good in America but among our 
own people ? I have heard it said, and that by those who 
were not very friendly to us, that we drive more to other 
churches than we draw to our own. Well, if in the order 
of God, let it be so : if they are safe housed ; if they ripen, 
and get safe to heaven, there will be but one fold there, 
and one Shepherd ; and though we could not perfectly 
harmonize on earth, there will be no discord in that sweet 
world of peace and joy. 

" Let us, my dear brethren, take the advice of St. Paul 
the aged, ' Whereunto we have already attained, let us 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



309 



walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing :' — let 
us lay aside every weight, and every besetment, loeking 
to Jesus, who is the author, till he become the finisher of 
our salvation. I told you that we have way marks, and 
that it is dangerous to remove any of them. ' Stand ye 
in the ways/ saith the prophet, ' and see ; ask for the old 
paths ; where is the good way, and walk therein, and you 
shall find rest for your souls.' The prophet Joel saith, 
"Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.' Remem- 
ber, the field is very extensive, and the whole human 
family are ripening either for heaven or hell. 

" I have had my time, and must soon leave this world ; 
but I bless God for the great change which has taken 
place in many parts of Christendom within the last fifty 
years. The old men have been, and are, dropping off, and 
the young men will have to bear the ark ; and I hope that 
they will do better than their fathers have done. 

" From the first planting of Christianity, to its establish- 
ment under Constantine, there were great accessions to 
the church of Christ ; and without doubt, millions of happy 
Christians, and exulting martyrs, went home to God, and 
are now rr oicing around the throne. 

" From „he time that papal Rome began to persecute 
the churc , until the coming of the Protestant reformers, 
an army >f martyrs and professors went triumphantly to 
glory. a the darker ages the church was said to be in 
the wil erness, and was at different periods known by 
variou c names, such as Albigenses, Waldenses, Lollards, 
Heretics, &c, &c. The stand which Luther and his 
coadjutors made against the errors of the church of Rome, 
was rendered a great blessing to the world ; and through 
that and the succeeding period, which may be called the 
puritanic age, many great men were raised up, and many 
souls experienced the liberty of the gospel ; and since the 
Wesleys were sent on the ministerial stage of action, and 
awakened the Protestant world from the slumber into 

27* 



310 LIFE OF THE 

which it had fallen, God has been glorified by the num- 
bers who have lived and died in his fear and favour : but 
there will be a time, and it is not far distant, when there 
shall be a more glorious, and a universal gathering to the 
church, which in the language of revelation shall last a 
thousand years. Isaiah tells us, that ' the mountain of 
the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the 
mountains, and that all nations shall flow unto it.' 

" Prior to the accomplishment of the predictions of the 
Old and New Testaments, respecting the last great out- 
pouring of the Spirit, there must be a shaking among the 
nations, and the kingdoms of the beast, and of the false 
prophet, will crumble away. We cannot say at what time 
the martyrs will rise, and commence their reign with 
Christ in heaven ; but to harmonize several passages of 
Scripture, we are necessarily led to believe that itheir 
resurrection will happen some time after the binding of 
Satan, and will continue as much longer after he is 
loosed. This opinion leaves room for the fulfilment of 
the predictions of our blessed Lord, respecting the gene- 
ral apostasy. But perhaps the inhabitants of the earth 
will be ignorant of the period of its commencement, or of 
its ending. 

" Christ saith, 1 What I say unto you, I say unto all — - 
watch.' Tne trumpet will be sounded, and the dead, both 
small and great, will arise. Christ will come in grandeur, 
and the whole human family will appear at the judgment 
seat; the pious of every nation, and of every sect, on the 
right, and the wicked on the left, to be judged according 
to the deeds done in the body. Sinners will feel awful 
when they see the Second Person in the Godhead coming 
in majesty and great power, to pronounce sentence upon 
the quick and the dead. You that deny the infinite merit 
of Jesus Christ, tremble ! You that have set up idols in 
vour hearts, and have rejected the Son of God, let fear- 
fulness take hold upon you, 



REV. F, GARRETTSON. 



311 



w I fully believe that the doctrines taught by Mr. John 
Wesley are scriptural, and will stand the test ; but what 
his people will be a hundred years hence we cannot say. 
They may be a numerous and a learned people ; but it is 
possible, that by slow degrees they may retrograde, until 
they have very little of the spirit of old Methodism ; and 
this certainly will be the case, without a steady and con- 
scientious perseverance in the good old paths. The letter 
is good in its place ; but we shall be, comparatively, nothing 
without the life and power of godliness. We must look 
well to our doctrines and discipline, and guard the sacred 
ministry. fi Lay hands suddenly on no man :' — look more 
to genuine piety, and to a real call from God, than to any 
literary qualification without it. Keep a pure ministry, 
and you will have a pure membership. The fall of the 
primitive church began with the clergy ; and should we 
fall, our declension will begin here. It is better to have 
a pious, laborious, successful ministry, than to have wealth 
and ease without such a ministry. 

" My dear brethren, I hope better things, though I thus 
speak. As a people, I hope we shall have a standing 
among the pious through a succession of ages. Unworthy 
as I am, I can look back with pleasure ; and when faith 
gives me a glimpse of that sweet world above, I think all 
the little toil and sufferings that I have passed through are 
nothing. Eternity ! O an eternity of felicity ! Who would 
not bear the cross, and follow Jesus for a lot in that sweet 
world, where we shall dwell with the blessed Trinity, the 
holy angels, and the spirits of all the just made perfect 
through the blood of the Lamb. 

" I bless God for what I have seen and felt ; but I have 
often wept whilst looking back on my unprofitable life, and 
on my many defects ; and I think, had I my time to live 
over again, I would strive more ardently to do good, and 
to live nearer to God. And soon, my dear brethren, I 
must leave yon, and go the way of all flesh. I have lived 



312 



LIFE OP THE 



long with you, and have seen a happy and prosperous half 
century. I love the Methodists, and hope they will prosper, 
I love Christians of every sect ; and I pray that the world 
may be filled with the glory of God ;— that false doctrines 
may be banished from the earth, and that the pure doc- 
trines of the gospel may run and be glorified. 

" Before I leave you, I wanted for a moment to look 
into the invisible world; but I am lost! Could we see 
the angelic host, and listen to the songs of the redeemed ! 
Could we join that blood-bought company, and converse 
with the patriarchs and prophets, and sages of the past, 
what rapture ! — But one glimpse of our Lord Jesus Christ 
would outshine them all ; for he only is worthy of all 
honour, and glory, and praise. We shall cast our crowns 
at his feet, and say, ' Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, 
but unto thy name give glory.' 

" My dear brethren, let us labour faithfully in scatter- 
ing the good seed ; let us do every thing in our power for 
the prosperity of Zion, and wait patiently for the great 
harvest day, when we shall all be gathered home, to be 
happy, with the ever blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and 
holy Spirit : to whom be glory, now, henceforth, and for 
ever. Amen. 5 ' 

At the close of this conference, Mr. Garrettson remarks, 
" Our dear brethren seem much engaged in the work, and 
I can truly say that I have sweet fellowship with them, and 
they treat me as a father. 

" Monday 22. Bishops M'Kendree and Hedding ac- 
companied me to Rhinebeck, and after spending several 
days pleasantly together, they took their departure on their 
way to the Genesee conference." 

The following is the last entry I find in his journal- 
After remarking that he had preached in the mission 
chapel at Rhinebeck, he says, 

" Monday 6. As I was appointed by the conference on 
a committee for the purpose of trying an unfortunate , 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



313 



and as my daughter wished to visit Union college, we 
prepared for the excursion, and on Tuesday evening we 
arrived safely at Dr. Nott's, where we were kindly received. 

" Wednesday 8. I am pleasantly situated, feeling a 
pleasure in retirement. God is good to me." 

For the purpose of exhibiting to the reader the prevail- 
ing disposition of his heart in his concluding days, I have 
thus minutely followed Mr. Garrettson through the last 
two years of his valuable life, giving his sentiments as 
recorded in his most retired moments, chiefly in his words. 
In the next chapter we shall follow him to his grave, and 
likewise present some general outlines of his character, 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Continued a Conference missionary —Instance of his affection— 
His last letter to Mrs. Garrettson — Attends Conference at Troy — 
His health and activity— Presentiment of his approaching dissolution 
— Visits New-York — His last sermon — His sickness, and death — 
His remains taken to Rhinebeck, and buried His death a loss to the 
church — General outlines of his character — Simplicity his distin- 
guishing feature — This gave him success in his ministry — Inspired 
him with persevering zeal — Induced him to forsake all for Christ's 
sake — Gave him liberal views — Attached him to his brethren — It 
shone in domestic life — In the order of his household, his hospitality, 
his placability, and in the pulpit— His perseverance — Veneration for 
the sacred Scriptures — Dependence on Divine aid — Variety and 
usefulness of his preaching —Infirmities common to man — His un- 
blemished reputation for nearly fifty-two years — Was the oldest 
Methodist preacher— Concluding remark, 

At the conference of 1826 Mr. Garrettson was conti- 
nued a conference missionary, and he employed his time 
in his usual way, making occasional excursions to New- 
York and some other places, preaching as often as his 
strength would permit him. Wherever he came he was 
hailed as a messenger of peace, and as a father in the gos- 
pel, both by the preachers and people. 

It was in the beginning of the winter of this year that 
I accompanied him to the city of Hudson, on an invitation 



314 



LIFE OF THE 



from the brethren in that place, for the purpose of opening 
a new church. Having attended at Poughkeepsie for the 
purpose of dedicating a church recently built in that place, 
I went on board the steam boat which came along about 
12 o'clock at night. I shall never forget the tender and 
affectionate manner in which he received me. He was in 
his birth, but hearing my voice, he addressed me by name, 
raised himself in his birth, affectionately squeezed my 
hand, expressing his gladness to see me. Indeed he always 
seemed revived whenever he came in company with his 
brethren in the ministry, whom he loved, I believe, " with 
a pure heart fervently." I have mentioned this circum- 
stance merely to show how sincerely he loved his friends, 
as well as the readiness with which he obeyed the calls of 
his brethren to aid them in their work. 

It was during one of his visits to the city of New- York, 
this year, that he sent the letter to Mrs. Garrettson, the 
last she ever received from him, of which the following 
is an extract : — 

" Yesterday I spent mostly in prayer and conversation ; 
to-day in reading, and this evening in writing. To-morrow 
I expect to be in the book room with the committee. 

" I groan for perfect freedom. I have heard people talk 
of laying up a stock of grace ; but, blessed and happy is 
that person who has a sufficiency from moment to moment, 
to keep him humble, innocent, and pure. We are every 
moment dependent upon God. I have no doubt but thai 
retrospection on a long life spent in the service of God, 
with a continuance in piety, must be very consoling ; but 
I know there is as great a necessity for watchfulness and 
perseverance as ever. The holy, blessed God knows our 
various weaknesses, and will in old age put beneath us his 
everlasting arms. O ! to come near to the throne of grace, 
and touch the hem of his garment by faith, and have every 
stain washed away. O ! to love God supremely." 

In 1827 our conference convened at the city of Troy 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



3lS 



He attended its sessions with his usual diligence, and 
among other things supported a resolution, that there 
should be preaching at five o'clock in the morning, and 
cheerfully filled the first appointment himself. At this 
conference he was elected again as a delegate to the en- 
suing general conference, which was to be held in Pitts- 
burgh, Pa., May I, 1828. He did not, however, live to 
see the conference. 

Notwithstanding his age, I believe none acquainted 
with him, who observed his healthful appearance and 
activity, thought him so near his end. After the close of 
the conference he persevered with his accustomed zeal 
and diligence in the discharge of his various duties, visit" 
ing his old friends, and preaching once or twice every 
sabbath. But though his family and friends flattered 
themselves that he might yet be spared some years to the 
church, it appears that he had a presentiment that his 
departure was at hand, and would often speak of it. Whe- 
ther this arose from any direct impression upon his mind, 
or from feeling the natural decays of age, or from an 
impression which he received some years since, I cannot 
tell. I, however, often heard him observe, — I think he made 
the remark to me for the first time in the year 1813, — - 
that being unwell a short time previously, he was calling 
on God, if it might be his will, to prolong his days ; when 
he received for answer, that fifteen years should be added 
to Ms life; but he observed, at the same time, that he 
could not satisfy himself whether it meant fifteen years 
from that time, or so many years beyond the usual term 
of human life, " threescore years and ten." From what- 
ever cause the impression proceeded, the sequel proves 
that his presentiment at this time was correct. 

On the 17th of August, 1827, after dining with his 
family with great cheerfulness, and commending them to 
God in prayer, Mr. Garrettson left home for the city of 
New- York. On his arrival in the city he preaehed his 



316 



I FE OF THE 



last sermon in the Duane-street church, on the words of 
St. Peter, " But grow in grace," and then administered 
the sacrament of the Lord's supper to a large number of 
communicants. It was remarked by some who were pre- 
sent on that occasion, that Mr. Garrettson preached with 
unusual warmth and energy, a Divine unction attending 
the word. Thus this venerable servant of God closed his 
public labours in pressing upon his brethren the necessity 
of going forward in the " work of faith and labour of love," 
and in participating with them in " drinking of the fruit 
of the vine," in anticipation of drinking it anew with them 
in the kingdom of God. 

Soon after he was violently seized with a disease called 
the strangury. Dr. Mott, a surgeon of established repu- 
tation in the city of New- York, was immediately called ; 
but though his applications afforded a temporary relief, 
the disease was so obstinately fixed as to resist the power 
of all attempts to arrest its progress. To Mrs. Garrettson 
and his daughter the mournful tidings of his illness were 
speedily conveyed, and they hastened to the city to com- 
fort him, and if possible to administer relief. But the 
hand of death had arrested him. I was absent from the 
city at the time he was taken ill. On my return, hearing 
of his illness and the nature of his disorder, it immediately 
came to my mind that " this sickness was unto death." 
As soon as convenient I repaired to the chamber where 
he was confined, and had a long conversation with him. 
He seemed to entertain but slender hopes of recovery, and 
observed, that should the disease be so far removed as to 
permit him to live a little longer, he should be a prisoner 
all his days. Though on the first approach of the disease, 
which was of a most painful character, he manifested some 
little restlessness, as if nature struggled involuntarily to free 
itself from suffering, he soon bowed in humble submission 
to the Divine will, and evinced an unshaken confidence 
in the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 



REV. F. GARRET, SON, 



3lT 



In the conversation to which I have alluded, he unbo- 
somed himself with great freedom, rehearsed the goodness 
of God, which had been so abundantly manifested to him 
I through every period of his life ; at the same time, as was 
^ usual with him, expressed himself in terms of the deepest 
| self abasement. At one time he would express his admi« 
[' ration of the perfections of God, as manifested in creation, 
\ and more especially in the grand system of redemption, 
I and then cry out with holy rapture, u I am filled with the 
j. perfect love of God." With much feeling and emphasis 
81 he said, " My hope is all founded in the infinite merits of 
i the Lord Jesus ; in this hope I enjoy unspeakable conso- 
I lation." In this way he lingered, sometimes suffering 
I exquisitely, for about five weeks. He did, indeed, pass 
t through the furnace, but he came forth not only unhurt, 
■ but abundantly refined ; and he died as he had lived, a 
I witness of perfect love. Redemption was the theme of 
J his contemplation through his sickness. Toward the last 
1 he became eager to depart — to go home. 
I The following account of some of the last days of Mr, 
I Garrettson is from the pen of Miss Mary K. Garrettson, 
: in a letter to the Rev. Richard Reece of England : — 

Dear and Rev. Sir, — Another memento of your 
\ Uindness most forcibly reminds us of our obligations, and 
I of the duty of giving you the interesting particulars of my 
blessed father's last illness and death ; a duty which has 
' been long delayed, for as often as it impressed itself on 
my mind, a sense of my inadequacy to the subject, and 
the pressure of my heavy bereavement, has most forcibly 
| withheld me from the attempt. 

44 For several months before his death, my dear father 
seemed to feel, in an unusual manner, the uncertainty of 
his own existence ; and an impression of the shortness of 
his stay, made him rather reluctantly consent to an elec- 
tion for delegate to the general conference. Our presiding 
elder, Mr. Scofield, has since informed us, that during his 
28 



318 



LIFE OF THE 



last visit here, papa took him to a little retreat in the gar- 
den, where he spent many of his hours in devotion, and 
after conversing on the affairs of the church, (which ever 
lay near his heart,) with the spirit of one ready to deparf 
and be with Christ, he said he should not probably live to 
see the next conference. They then kneeled down and 
prayed together, when the power and presence of God were 
felt, said Mr. Scofield, in a manner never to be forgotten 
by me. 

" On Friday, the 17th of August, my dear father 
left us in usual health, expecting to spend the sabbath 
in New- York, and to return the ensuing Monday or 
Tuesday. I can never forget the last day he spent at 
home : — a serenity and happiness marked his manner, 
and the purest love was reflected in all his actions. Our 
table was surrounded by friends. Some had recently 
arrived,, and others were about to depart. A mingled 
sensation of pleasure at the coming, and regret at the 
parting guests, pervaded our minds ; — but pleasure was 
predominant, for fancy painted futurity with the pencil of 
hope, and the regret we felt was just sufficient to soften 
her vivid colouring. But my dear father ; — the heavenly 
expression of his countenance during that social meal I 
can never forget ; and I find a mournful pleasure in recall- 
ing again and again the events of that last day of family 
enjoyment. After dinner we kneeled down, and he prayed 
with us in a manner unusually solemn, tender, and affect- 
ing. Almost every eye was suffused in tears : — we parted. 
The next sabbath was spent by him in the services of the 
sanctuary, in preaching and administering the sacrament, 
On Monday he underwent considerable fatigue, but spent 
the evening at Mr. Buckley's. He appeared to the family 
to be in unusual health and spirits, sat up beyond his cus- 
tomary hour, although it was his intention to take the six 
o'clock boat, and dine with us on the morrow. That 
night, however, he was seized with his last agonizing 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



315 



disorder, and after spending several days of intense pain 
and extreme danger, he consented to abandon the thought 
of returning home, and to send for mamma and me. 

"On our arrival we were told that the crisis of his dis- 
order had been favourably passed, and that, though lin- 
gering, there was every prospect of his ultimate recovery. 
But though we suffered our judgment to be led captive by 
our wishes even to the last, no hopes of that kind were 
implanted in his mind. I believe he knew and felt that 
his time of departure was at hand. His sufferings at times 
were unutterable ; but through them all were manifested 
a resignation and fortitude which no agony could destroy. 
* I shall be purified as by fire ; I shall be made perfect 
through sufferings : — it is all right, all right ; not a pain 
too much,' he would often say. Daily, and almost hourly, 
he was visited by some one or other of his brethren, who 
added much to his consolation during those seasons when 
the heart and the flesh fail, but when the religion of Christ 
is indescribably precious ; (the recollection of their kind 
attentions will never pass^from my mind;) and as he 
descended into the dark valley, his views of the grandeur 
and efficacy of the atonement became more and more 
enlarged. His disorder inclined him latterly to slumber, 
and he was often delirious; but even then the same sub-' 
j<ect was the theme of his discourse. Toward the last his 
strength was so much exhausted, that articulation became 
a painful effort ; but he would often, in a languid feeble 
voice, say, 1 1 want to go home ; I want to be with Jesus, 
I want to be with Jesus.' To a friend he said, a short 
time before his death, 1 1 feel the perfect love of God in 
my soul.' A day or two before his departure I heard 
him say, * And I shall see Mr. Wesley too.' It appeared 
as if he was ruminating on the enjoyment of that world, 
upon the verge of which he then was : — -enjoyments which 
he said a Christian could well understand, as they began 
in his heart before he was disembodied. His mind seemed 



320 



LIFE OF THE 



employed with subjects for the sweetest feelings of love 
and adoration. When asked how he did, he would answer^ 
s I feel love and good will to all mankind,' — or, ' I see a 
beauty in all the works of God/ — forgetting that the 
infirmities of his body were the subject of the inquiry. 
He had resigned his wife and daughter into the hand of 
God, and so great was his desire to be with Christ, that 
parting with us was disarmed of its bitterness. His last 
sentence spoken, even in death, was, *■ Hoiy, holy, holy, 
Lord God Almighty ! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!' After that, 
though he lingered many hours, he eould not speak arti- 
culately. Once only, clasping his hands, and raising his 
eyes to heaven, he uttered, ' Glory ! glory ! J Many peti- 
tions were offered around his dying bed, that he might be 
permitted to give his last testimony, but they were not. 
granted. For myself, I felt it was not necessary. A holy 
and laborious life of more than fifty-two years bore ample 
testimony to the triumph of his soul over its last enemy. 

" Never can I hope to give you more than a faint idea 
of the solemn yet glorious hour when the spirit achieved 
that last victory, and was ushered into the joy of the Lord. 
Encircled by his kind and affectionate friends, by his bre- 
thren and his sons in the gospel, my venerable father lay 
apparently unconscious of every thing that surrounded him. 
We felt truly that he was only leaving the church militant 
to join the church triumphant. Just as the period of his 
departure approached, one of the preachers broke forth 
into prayer ; — prayer so elevated, so holy, that it seemed 
to wrap the hearers above all sublunary consideration, and 
as he commended the dying saint into the hands of God, 
he prayed that the mantle of the departing patriarch might 
rest on his surviving brethren. His prayer seemed answer- 
ed • — a Divine influence pervaded the apartment ; — two 
of the preachers almost sunk to the floor, under a glo- 
rious sense of His presence who filleth immensity. My 
dear mother, with clasped hands and streaming eyes, ex 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



32 i 



claimed, ' Yes, Lord ! we give him up freely,—; freely give 
him up to thee V 

" The spirit departed, leaving the body impressed with 
the sweetest expression of peace and tranquillity ; an 
expression which it retained until the moment when it 
was shrowded from human observation. We could stand 
beside those dear remains, and imagine that their appear- 
ance of renewed youth and happiness was a pledge of that 
glorious resurrection, when death shall be swallowed up 
in victory, and the mortal put on immortality ; and we 
could look on the grave as a sure and certain deposit 
until that day when it shall give back its precious seed 
rejoicing." 

Thus as a ripe shock of corn was he gathered into the 
garner of his God, in the 76th year of his age, and the 
52d of his itinerant ministry. He ended his useful life 
and painful suffering at the house of his long tried friend, 
George Suckley, Esq., in the city of New- York, about 
2 o'clock in the morning of the 26th of September 1827. 

His remains were taken to Rhinebeck, his late resi- 
dence, accompanied by his bereaved widow and daughter, 
the writer, and several of the preachers on the New- York 
station, Mr. Suckley, and other friends. These had the 
mournful pleasure of following the lifeless body into that 
friendly enclosure, which had so often been enlivened by 
his presence while living, and while entertaining his friends 
with gospel simplicity and hospitality, and placed in that 
mansion which had been dedicated to God, and where 
He had so frequently honoured his servant with his peace- 
ful presence. 

On Friday, the 28th, a numerous circle of family con- 
nexions, friends, and neighbours, who seemed deeply 
affected with their loss, were addressed at the house of 
the deceased by the Rev. Thomas Burch. Afterwards 
the procession, which was long and solemn, slowly moved 
to the burying ground at Rhinebeck Flats, a distance of 

23* 



322 



LIFE OF THE 



about two miles, where the funeral service was performed 
by the writer, and the corpse was deposited in the earth, 
to sleep till " the resurrection of the just and unjust." A 
discourse was immediately delivered to a deeply affected 
audience, who evinced by their conduct their respect for 
departed worth. 

The next sabbath his funeral sermon was preached on 
these words: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the 
upright, for the end of that man is peace.' 1 

The following inscription is on his tombstone : — 

Sacred 
to 

the memory of the 
Rev. Freeborn Garrettson* 

an itinerant minister of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 
He commenced his itinerant ministry 
in the year 1775. 
In this work he continued until his death 
labouring with great diligence and success 
in various parts of the 
United States 

and of 
Nova Scotia. 
He died in peace in the city of 
New-York, 
September 26, 1827, 
in the 76th year of his age, 
and 52d of his ministry. 

■ Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end 
of that man is peace," Psalm xxxvi, 37. 

In the death of Mr. Garrettson the church militant wa. 
deprived of one of its most aged, most devoted, and suc- 
cessful ministers. From the commencement of his minis- 
terial career to its termination, he seems to have pursued 
his object with untiring constancy and perseverance ; and 
. herever he moved, the purity of his intentions and the 
iprightness of his deportment secured for him the confi- 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



32B 



dence of all who feared God; while the holy unction 
which generally accompanied his public administration, 
announced him as the commissioned messenger of God 
to a lost world. 

This, I think, has been sufficiently manifest in the 
preceding pages. It is therefore unnecessary to add much 
more, as his private exercises and public labours have 
been exhibited as they in reality were in the various rela- 
tions of life which he sustained. 

I shall, however, in accordance with the general cus- 
tom, endeavour to exhibit some general outlines of a cha- 
racter which the more I contemplate the more I admire — • 
not so much on account of the brilliancy of talents which 
it unfolds, as on account of the noble, the gospel szm- 
plicity, which so conspicuously distinguished our departed 
father in the gospel of Christ. 

Let no one suppose that in fixing on this as the distin- 
guishing feature of his character, there is an intention 
to diminish his worth. Far otherwise. There is no inten- 
tion either to diminish or to exalt, but to speak what I 
believe to be the truth in relation to him. When I say 
that he was eminently distinguished by simplicity, I mean 
that simplicity which is inseparably connected with a 
f conscience void of offence towards God and man," the 
effect of that Divine love in the heart which is always 
productive of a single and sincere desire to do good, to 
kt glorify his God below, and find his way to heaven." If 
ever there was a man on earth devoid of subtlety, guile, 
or suspicion, Freeborn Garrettson was that man, 
While his judgment was well matured by study, by habits 
of reflection, and a close attention to passing events, his 
heart was filled with that love which caused this promi- 
nent trait of his character to shine forth in all its loveli- 
ness, and will no doubt be recognised by all who knew 
him as his distinguishing peculiarity. No corroding sus- 
picious disturbed the sweet repose which reigned in his 



LIFE OF THE 



breast. Until compelled by the irresistible language of 
facts, to denounce any one as insincere who professed to 
love the Lord Jesus, he embraced all such as " brethren 
beloved." Being honest and sincere himself, he could 
not indulge in a suspicious temper towards others. And 
if this heavenly disposition sometimes exposed him to the 
impositions of the cunning and the crafty, it happily 
relieved him from the vexations of imaginary evils, and 
the pain of " fearing where no fear was." And if we 
must err, as seems unavoidable in this fallible and change- 
able state, how much better is it to suffer the hand of 
charity to lead us astray, than to be tormented day and 
night by the evil forebodings of a restless disposition ! 
From the demon of jealousy, and the evil genius of sus- 
picion, it behoves us all to pray, " Good Lord, deliver us. 5 ' 

This, therefore, is so far from being a defect, that I 
humbly conceive that it ought to be^reckoned among the 
cardinal virtues of a Christian. And this marked all his 
actions, pervaded his whole soul, and contributed to that 
pure enjoyment in which he so largely participated in the 
society of his friends. 

It was no doubt this simple intention to please his God 
in all things which gave him such distinguished success 
in the ministry of the word. It may be fairly questioned 
whether any one minister in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, or indeed in any other church during the same- 
period, has been instrumental in the awakening and con- 
version of more sinners than Mr. Garrettson. This I think 
has been abundantly evinced in the preceding Memoir. 

It was this simple desire to do good which inspired him 
with such a flaming ardour and such intrepid courage in 
the cause of his Divine Master. . Neither the heat of the 
south, the cold of the north, nor the variable atmosphere 
of the more temperate clime ; neither the dust and smoke 
of the city, the hill and dale of the country, nor the forests 
of the wilderness : neither riches nor poverty, ease nor. 



REV. P. GARRETTSON. 



325 



luxury; neither frowns nor smiles, could dampen tr^ 
ardour of his zeal, or quench the thirst he had for the 
salvation of immortal souls. Wherever he came, in what- 
ever company, whether of the rich or the poor, in whatever 
climate, his theme was the same ; it was " Jesus and him 
crucified declaring to all that he was not u ashamed of 
the gospel of Christ." This was the soul and main spring 
of all his actions; that which set him in motion, and 
which kept him moving in the circle of obedience to what 
he considered, and what the effect of his labours proved 
to be, a Divine call. 

What" else but a simple desire to do good to all men as 
he had opportunity, could have induced him to forsake all 
in early life, to persevere through " good and evil report," 
for upwards of fifty years, without fee or reward ? For ifc 
may be observed here, that Mr. Garrettson, during the 
whole course of his ministry, never received any pecuniary 
recompense, or if at some times, through the solicitation 
of his friends, he received any, it was given either to 
necessitous individuals, or deposited with the funds of the 
conference. In this manner the patrimony he inherited 
from his ancestors was all expended, and it has often been 
observed, that for this sacrifice, so nobly and freely offered 
upon the altar of benevolence, he was rewarded u a hun- 
dred fold, even in this life." And after he came into the 
possession of a larger estate by his happy marriage, I have 
frequently heard him say, that the entire income of his- 
property, after meeting his annual expenses, was devoted 
to charitable purposes. In pursuing this course, and 
making these sacrifices, what else, I say, could have moved 
him forward so steadily, and for so long a time, but a 
single desire to promote the glory of God in the salvation 
of souls 1 

It was the same principle which inspired him with that 
spirit of liberality towards other denominations of Chris* 
nans by which he was characterized. Though Mr. Gar- 



326 



LIFE OF THE 



rettson was sincerely and concientiously attached to the 
church to which he belonged, firmly believed and faithfully 
defended its peculiarities, yet towards all others which 
he believed held fast the cardinal and distinguishing doc- 
trines of the gospel, he exercised a spirit of charity, loving 
the good of every name, and rejoicing in every thing evan- 
gelical he could discover among them. Hence his resi- 
dence was the resort of Christians and of Christian 
ministers of different denominations. While he could 
hold no fellowship with those who openly denied the 
proper Deity of Jesus Christ, and consequently set aside 
his atonement for the sins of the world, most cordially he 
gave the right hand of fellowship to all who " loved the 
Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity," and who believed and 
defended the grand cardinal truths of Christianity. How- 
ever much they might differ from him in points of minor 
importance, if they held fast these great doctrines of God 
our Saviour, he embraced them as his brethren in the 
Lord. Here was a full display of that " love which 
thinketh no evil." As a proof of the truth of these 
remarks, the following anecdote is related of Mr. Gar- 
rettson, at the time he visited Providence, in Rhode 
Island : — 

A member of Mr. Snow's church — Mr. Snow was 
either a Congregational or a Presbyterian minister — ex- 
pressed some anxiety to know whether Mr. Garrettson 
meant to establish a Methodist church in Providence. 
Mr. Garrettson replied to this effect : — " Be assured, sir. 
that if I do, I shall not admit you." "Why would you 
not receive me," said the gentleman ; 4< have you heard 
any thing to my disparagement?" "No, sir," said Mr. 
Garrettson ; " I have heard nothing which would not 
entitle you to an honourable standing in any church ; but 
you are under a spiritual minister. I would rather add 
ic, than take from Mr. Snow's church; and were I to 
raise a church in this place, they should be gathered from 



REV. F. GARRETT30N. 



327 



among those who were not privileged wRl^uch a minis- 
try, or those who would not avail themselves of the pri- 
vilege," 

It was this same principle which attached him so affec- 
tionately to his brethren in the ministry, as well as to al! 
the members of the church. Though, as before said, he 
loved and honoured all ministers of Christ, of whatever 
name, he manifested a very peculiar attachment to the 
ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He never 
seemed so happy as when in their society. To those of 
them with whom he was intimate he would unbosom him- 
self without reserve. His house was the free resort of all 
who could visit him, and they were entertained with all 
the hospitality and simplicity of primitive times, To his 
house, his table, and his heart, they always found a hearty 
welcome. Many happy hours of social intercourse, and 
of Christian conversation, has the writer enjoyed under 
that peaceful roof, the mention of which brings to mind 
so many endearing recollections. 

This leads me to mention the manner in which this 
heavenly disposition displayed itself in domestic life, Here 
the beauty and excellence of religion shone in all its 
divine lustre and heavenly simplicity. I remember a few 
years since a conversation with a pious Presbyterian lady 
ef the city of New-York, who was in habits of intimacy 
with Mrs. Garrettson, and who had recently returned 
from a visit to the family at Rhinebeck. She was ex- 
pressing her great satisfaction at the admirable order 
which prevailed there ; " I do not mean," said she, " the 
order of the farm or of the house, though this is indeed 
worthy of all praise ; but I mean the religions order which 
prevails throughout every department ; the orderly arrange- 
ment for family devotions, and the orderly manner in which 
the servants, and all attached to the household, attend to 
their religious as well as to their other duties." This was 
Saying nothing more than what was strictly true. God indeed 



32S 



LIFE OP THE 



seemed abun^ptiftly to bless him in this respect. All about 
the farm, all his domestics, were moral, most of them reli- 
gious, and they were generally members of the Methodist 
church. The example continually set before them, taught 
them the utility, as well as the indispensible duty, of an 
orderly and regular attendance to all the duties of the sanc- 
tuary, as also to their private and family devotions. In this 
circle, therefore, God reigned. Here he " commanded his 
blessing, even life for evermore." Every thing here was 
" sanctified by the word of God and prayer/' Reading a 
portion of the sacred Scriptures, singing some verses of a 
hymn, and prayer, formed the family devotions of the even- 
ing and morning, and then every one went orderly to his 
business. If company remained, they might either retire to 
a room, or enjoy the benefits of society in the house, or, 
particularly in the summer season, in the pleasant walks in 
the garden, or under the shade of a delightful bower, or the 
foliage of the forest trees with which the mansion was sur- 
rounded. Wherever they went on this enclosure, peace 
and contentment smiled around, and produced a charm 
unknown to thoughtless and dissipated minds. 

I am here reminded of a saying of the late lamented 
Bishop George. Speaking of Mr. Garrettson, he remarked, 
how agreeably disappointed he was in visiting him at his 
own house. Having only seen Mr. Garrettson occasion- 
ally at the general conference, and sometimes being under 
the necessity of differing from him on some points of 
ecclesiastical polity, the bishop had formed an idea that 
Mr. Garrettson was rather austere in his manners, and 
somewhat bigoted in his views ; " but," said the bishop, 
u when I had the happiness of visiting him under his own 
roof, and of observing the pious order of his household, the 
hospitality of his disposition, the kindness and attention 
with which he treated his friends and visiters, all my pre- 
judices were banished ; and I now think that the worth of 
brother Garrettson has not been duly estimated." 



REV. F. GARRETT50N. 



329 



What contributed much to his own comfort was the 
placability of his disposition, another inseparable compa- 
nion of that divine simplicity which predominated in his 
heart. That he had enemies was not his fault. No one 
should have been his enemy. Neither had such any cause 
! to fear him, because he would not have hurt them even if 
he could. While he fulfilled the Divine command in loving 
his friends, he also inherited the blessing of those who bless 
and curse not, and who pray for those who despitefully use 
them. On how many heads he has thus heaped " coals of 
fire," and by the influence of this love melted them into 
tenderness, and made them his friends, " that day" alone 
can declare ; but I have heard it remarked, that if you 
wanted to obtain a special favour from Mr. Garrettson, you 
must do him some injury, for he was sure to repay it by ari 
act of kindness. Not that he was insensible to injuries and 
insults. He felt them, and felt them keenly ; but he well 
understood the difference between feeling an insult, and 
manifesting a suitable indignation at the conduct of the 
malevolent, and suffering the passion of revenge to linger 
in his bosom. While he wept over the miseries of the wick- 
ed, and commiserated the condition of those who might be 
actuated by private malice, or personal hostility, he bore 
them before the throne of grace in prayer, evincing the ten- 
derest love to their persons, and the sincerest desire for the 
salvation of their souls. He thus -exemplified the spirit 
which actuated his Divine Master, when he prayed, " Fa- 
ther, forgive them, for they know not what they do." I 
have known him take special pains to conciliate the good 
will of persons whom he feared he had wounded merely 
because he conscientiously differed from them in opinion, 
lest they might harbour the thought that he entertained 
unkind feelings toward them. He could, indeed, be 
reconciled to any thing but sin, and* those dangerous 
errors which struck at the fundamental doctrines of Christ. 
To these enemies of God and man he showed no mercy, 

29 



330 



LIFE OF THE 



To the same ardent thirst for the salvation of lost mm 
may be attributed his zealous co-operation in all our bene^ 
volent institutions. He lived to see that divine principle 
which thrust him out into his Lord's vineyard in the midst 
of obloquy and reproach, when the true disciples of Jesus 
were " as a speckled bird, and the birds round about" were 
against them, enlarged into an expansive benevolence; 
and so mightily had the word of God increased, and the 
number of disciples multiplied, that institutions of charity 
were springing up in every direction, to bless the world 
with an increase of light and knowledge. Mr. Garrettson 
watched the rise and progress of these institutions with 
strong and increasing interest. He aided their operations 
by contributing to their funds. 

To the American Bible Society he became a life mem- 
ber. He assisted as one of the founders of the Missionary 
Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, became first 
an annual contributor, afterwards a life member, and 
often stimulated others to become its supporters. To the 
Tract and Sunday School Societies he was a warm 
friend and faithful patron. And if at any time he did not 
answer the expectations of some in the frequency and the 
amount of his donations, it was because they knew not 
the multitude of calls which were made upon his bounty, 
nor the urgency with which they were pressed upon his 
attention. It being generally believed that he was rich in 
this world's goods, and well known that he was a friend to 
suffering humanity, all were ready to turn their attention 
to him for aid; and hence had he given according to 
each one's expectation, he would very soon have been a 
pauper himself, and thjis been deprived of the means of 
" scattering abroad" the charities of a liberal mind. That 
he endeavoured conscientiously to " use his Lord's money," 
and to make to himself " friends of the mammon of un- 
righteousness," none will dispute who were acquainted 
with his manner of life. 



REV. F. GARRETTSON, 



331 



if we view Mr. Garrettson as a minister of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, we shall behold the same disposition dis- 
playing itself on all occasions. Indeed so habitual was 
the impression on the minds of all with whom he was 
acquainted, of his deep sincerity, of the simple desire of 
his heart to ascertain and promulgate the truth as it is in 
Jesus, that however some might differ from him in his 
views, they could hardly resist the conviction which the 
force of this principle made on their hearts. And if it be 
the chief business of a minister of the sanctuary to carry 
a conviction to the hearts of sinners of the truths of the 
gospel, and to awaken within them a serious concern 
respecting the solemn realities of eternity ; if the object of 
his mission be to point those i( that mourn in Zion" to the 
" Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world ;' 5 
if he should not cease his exhortations until he lead the 
penitent sinner to the blood of atonement, " which cleans- 
eth from all unrighteousness/' and until he so believe as 
to receive the witness in himself that he is born of God; 
if the end of his commission is to build up believers " in 
their most holy faith, " and never let them rest until they 
are fitted with the perfect love of God ; if to accomplish 
these objects be the principal aim of the minister, then 
we may pronounce the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson to 
have been a true minister of Jesus Christ. If it be the 
duty of a minister commissioned of God to " go into all 
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature/ 9 as 
far as his strength and opportunities will permit; and if 
in doing this he is to give evidence of his call to the work 
by preaching with all that zeal and pathos which distin- 
guish men influenced by the Spirit of God, and having the 
worth of souls pressing upon their hearts ; then did the 
subject of this memoir discharge his duty, and give the 
most substantial evidence of his Divine call to this holy 
and important work. His labour and diligence were great, 
and his success in winning souls to Christ was in proper- 



832 



LIFE OF THE 



tion. Wherever he went he left the impressions of trut L 
behind him. Sinners were made to feel their awful respon- 
sibility to God, while His people felt the " holy anointing," 
and often " shouted aloud for joy." 

He held on his way. Whatever impediments were 
thrown in his path, they did not stop his progress. Having 
fixed his " single eye" on the " prize of his high calling" 
at the outset, he pursued it to the end of life. We have 
seen him renouncing ease, affluence, all those enjoyments 
which domestic felicity might afford, for the sake of win- 
ning souls to Christ. The church, — the welfare of the 
church, — occupied his private meditations and engaged 
his public labours. And he lived to see that church to 
which he belonged, and whose interests were identified 
with his own, increase from 3,148, the number in mem- 
bership when he commenced his youthful and successful 
career in 1775, to 381,997, the number returned on the 
Minutes in 1827, the year in which he died; and the 
number of travelling preachers increase from 19 to 1,576. 
Well might he say, as he did in his Semi-centennial Ser- 
mon, " We shall hear of spiritual fathers and of their 
spiritual children blessing and praising God that they 
were ever sent out to traverse the mountains and valleys 
to call sinners to repentance." How many will rise up 
in that day and call him blessed, He only who numbers 
the hairs of our heads can tell. 

But that which gave such efficiency to his labour in the 
gospel, was the " unction of the Holy One," which rested 
upon him. No man, I believe, was more deeply sensible 
of the indispensibieness of the Holy Spirit to enable the 
minister of Christ to succeed in his work, than Mr. Gar- 
rettson. Deriving all his doctrine and precepts from the 
pure fountain of Divine truth, the Holy Scriptures, he 
made these his daily study ; and being deeply conscious 
that he must have the enlightening and sanctifying infiV 
ences of the Holy Spirit, to enable him rightly to under- 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



833 



stand and apply these truths, he was assiduous in his 
addresses to the throne of grace, firmly believing that God 
would " give the Holy Spirit to them that ask <him." The 
success, therefore, which accompanied his public labours, 
is not attributable to the force of human persuasion, or to 
the " words of man's wisdom," but to the " demonstration 
of the Spirit/ 5 which accompanied his word. Thus armed 
with the " sword of the Spirit," his word was " mighty, 
through God, to the pulling down of strong holds." 

His action in the pulpit was not generally graceful, nor 
could he be pronounced eloquent, according to the usual 
definition of that word. On some occasions, however, he 
seemed inspired with an eloquence far surpassing all human 
attainments, when his words were accompanied with a 
gesticulation appropriate and striking, and which bespoke 
a soul filled " with glory and with God." On these occa- 
sions the congregation would be overwhelmed with a sense? 
of the Divine presence, while tears and groans, prayer and 
praise, would sufficiently attest the power with which he 
spoke. 

There was great variety in his preaching, both as to the 
manner and matter, which made his discourses always 
both entertaining and useful; and I believe he seldom 
wearied an audience with a dry detail of uninteresting 
matter, or with speculations which did not profit the 
hearer. His was the preaching of a man aiming to be 
useful, aspiring to be good instead of great, penetrating 
by the arrows of truth into the sinner's heart, and pouring 
the balm of consolation into the " wounded spirit." It was 
deep, experimental, and practical. 

Such was the character of the Rev. Freeborn Garrett- 
son. And if his name be not handed down to posterity as 
one of the greatest ministers with which the Methodist 
Episcopal Church has been favoured, he will unquestion- 
ably be ranked among the best, the most devoted, and the 
most successful. 



334 



LIFE OF THE 



Perhaps it might be expected that I should mention hi& 
imperfections and faults. That he was in every respect 
perfect, whp will contend ? But whatever defects he may 
have had, they were such as are inseparable from man, 
defects of the head and not of the heart; natural, not 
moral. Were 1 to attempt to describe a perfect character, 
one that was free from the infirmities of human nature, I 
should not only render myself ridiculous, but prove myself 
destitute of that very virtue which was so estimable, and 
which shone so conspicuously in Mr. Garrettson, — I mean 
"godiy simplicity and sincerity/' 

" To err is human." And that Mr. Garrettson was 
liable to err from the natural imperfection of his judgment, 
and therefore might have often been under mistakes in his 
estimation of men and things, needs neither an apology to 
admit, nor any false colouring to hide. This is common 
to men, — to the best of men. When therefore it is said 
that such a man had his infirmities, that he exhibited 
foibles, made mistakes, and erred in his judgment, we do 
but describe what is common to man, and say nothing to 
distinguish one human being from another. These sad 
marks of our original apostasy cleave alike to all, the wise 
and the unwise, the learned and the ignorant. But when 
we say of a man that, in the midst of these natural infirmi- 
ties, with a thousand temptations from without to entice 
him from the path of obedience to his God, he held on 
his way, — that he triumphed over sin and Satan, — that 
he uniformly maintained an unspotted character, — that he 
lived and died in the fear and favour of God, — we describe 
a man that rose far above the efforts of human nature, — 
we behold a man in whom kC dwelt the Spirit of the Holy 
One," and in whom is " magnified the grace of God." 
It is of such a one that I now speak. Human nature, 
however improved by education and reflection, is not 
competent to gain a victory over evil propensities, to 
subdue sinful habits and passions; but when renewed by 



REV. F. GARRETTSON. 



335 



the grace of God in Christ Jesus, it shines, — it triumphs^ 
—and vanquishes every enemy to its peace and happiness* 

For such a perfection, therefore, as exempts men from 
these inseparable infirmities of our nature, we plead not. 
But this I think I may affirm without any fear of contra- 
diction, that among all the ministers of Jesus Christ during 
the period in which he lived, none maintained a more 
unblemished reputation, was more deeply and sincerely 
devoted to God, more successful in extending the Re- 
deemer's kingdom among men, or more perfectly an- 
swered the end for which the Christian ministry was 
instituted. From the time of his conversion to God, in 
the 23d year of his age, until his death, in the 76th year 
of his age, under the protection of" the everlasting arms/ 5 
the purity of his life, and the uprightness of his deport- 
ment, were never questioned, but acknowledged by all 
with whom he had intercourse ; and for upwards of fifty- 
one years he appeared before the public as an ambassador 
of the Lord Jesus Christ, during which time the words of 
his lips gained the more credence from the unimpaired 
confidence which every one had in the integrity of his 
heart and the righteousness of his life. And when he sunk 
into the grave, he was the oldest travelling minister of that 
church, whose general economy he loved, whose doctrines 
he believed and preached, whose God and Saviour he 
adored, and served in " the fellowship of the gospel," and 
whose ramparts he left, after having defended them for 
more than fifty years, to take his seat in " that house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens, whose builder 
and maker is God." 

Finally, in contemplating his character, we may take 
the text on which he so often delighted to preach, and 
which was selected as the foundation of his funeral dis- 
course, and say, " Mark the perfect man, and behold the 
upright, for the end of that man is peace," 

THE END. 



